Last modified: Monday, November 10, 2008
IU Dance Marathon aims to surpass $1 million goal
Since its inception in 1991, the event has raised more than $6 million for Riley
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 10, 2008
BLOOMINGTON -- This Friday (Nov. 14) in Bloomington, Indiana University students will come together for the 18th annual Dance Marathon to raise money for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
Last year, an assemblage of more than 850 dancers, 350 student committee members, 500 volunteers and IU alumni raised $1,041,197 for Riley Hospital -- the highest amount in the event's history. This year, IU students hope to surpass the $1 million mark for the second time.
IU students bust a move to raise money at the annual IU Dance Marathon. Proceeds go to Riley Hospital for Children.
More than 2,000 students are expected to participate in this year's 36-hour dance marathon, which begins at 8 p.m., Friday, and runs through 8 a.m., Sunday, at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) at IU Bloomington. The event will feature testimonials from Riley families and other guest speakers, dancing, music, food and socializing.
IU Dance Marathon began in 1991 in honor of Ryan White, an AIDS activist and Riley Hospital for Children patient who died of AIDS in 1990. Since its inception, the event has generated more than $6 million for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital.
IU Dance Marathon now serves as a role model for dance marathon programs throughout Indiana and is the largest Children's Miracle Network-affiliated dance marathon. Students from 20 Indiana universities and high schools will lace up their dancing shoes during the 2008-2009 academic year to raise money for Riley Hospital. Last year, schools combined to raise $1,265,946.
"We are grateful for the support of Indiana University Dance Marathon and all schools involved in the Riley Dance Marathon Program. Students tirelessly devote themselves to provide funding for Riley Hospital," said Martin Kleiman, director of the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center and Endowed Chair at Riley Hospital for Children. The Ryan White Infectious Disease Center provides children with HIV and other life-threatening infections an opportunity to find care.
About Riley Children's Foundation
Riley Children's Foundation supports Riley Hospital for Children, Camp Riley for Youth with Physical Disabilities, and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. As Indiana's only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families since 1924. Each year, families turn to Riley for care more than 200,000 times. Children come from all 92 Indiana counties, across the nation and throughout the world. Riley Hospital's partnership with Clarian Health and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine make Riley Hospital for Children the leader in pediatric care in the state and the region. For more information, see https://www.rileykids.org/.
For more information about IU Dance Marathon, sponsored this year by IU Recreational Sports, IU Student Travel Association, STA Travel, Solution Tree and WBWB-FM, see https://www.iudm.org/.
View a video from the 2007 Dance Marathon: https://newsinfo.iu.edu/asset/page/normal/4073.html.
For a map to IU's HPER building, see: https://www.hper.indiana.edu/visit/maps.shtml.
