Dance Marathon wins state award for philanthropy

The Indianapolis chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals recently recognized the IU Dance Marathon as an "Outstanding Civic Organization" with a 2006 Philanthropy Award. IUDM, which was nominated for the award by the Riley Children's Foundation, received the honor at this year's association banquet, titled "Recognizing Giving Hearts."\nThe association issued the award only three weeks after IUDM raised more than $920,300 for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The Association of Fundrasing Professionals is an international leader in generating humanitarian support for a wide variety of nonprofit charitable organizations. Since its inception in 1960, the association has promoted philanthropy all over the globe and has now grown into a far-reaching network of more than 27,000 members participating in 180 worldwide chapters, according to an IU press release.\nIUDM organizers said the event owes its tremendous success to everyone who volunteered their time and effort toward this year's marathon, especially the participants who shook a HPER gym dance floor for 36 straight hours. \n"Without the dancers, there would be no marathon," said Katie Koors, IUDM event coordination director. "This year, we almost doubled the number of dancers to over 1,000, and look what it did to our total."\nIUDM President Josh Wendahl, who oversaw the largest single-year fundraising increase in IUDM's 16-year history, said he never doubted that last year's total of more than $677,400 would be surpassed. \n"It's amazing what a bunch of motivated college kids can do when they put their mind to it," Wendahl said. "With so much negativity surrounding college students regarding drinking and drugs, this just goes to show that we can and do make a difference on every campus around the nation every day."\nVolunteers, such as IUDM Corporate Relations Director Arielle Morrison, said they took away a lifetime of fulfillment from their IUDM experience. \n"Giving to someone who will never be able to pay you back is the best feeling that I have ever had," Morrison said. "IUDM made me feel like I accomplished something in college besides passing the tests and getting the grades."\nIUDM's mantra is simple: "for the kids." This is a large reason why IUDM Dancer Relations Director Diana Carlson and other event organizers make IUDM a part of their lives, even after leaving IU. \n"Everything we do, we do for the kids, and our goal is to help as many as possible," Carlson said. "Dance Marathon stays with you for the rest of your life. The people who started IUDM 16 years ago still come to the marathon and support us during the year leading up to the marathon."\nIUDM Alumni Relations Director Kiley McNutt said IUDM brings students closer to the children of Riley.\n"So many people have been touched by Riley Hospital for Children in so many ways," McNutt said. "We're like a big happy family, and I couldn't imagine being without a single one of them."\nCollege campuses around the country are becoming increasingly inspired by the continued growth and success of IUDM and are beginning to launch their own dance marathons as a result. \n"Children's Miracle Network has spread our idea across the nation. We were the first of 80 based around IUDM on college campuses in the U.S.," Wendahl said. "The future is bright, and the possibilities are endless. When you get people motivated, you can change the world"