IUDM announces $1.52 M raised for Riley kids

Though it has been more than four years since IU student Ashley Crouse was killed in a hit-and-run accident on campus, her legacy lives on as her brother, senior Casey Crouse, dedicates himself to the organization to which his sister gave so much: IU Dance Marathon. 

“I give absolutely everything I can to the dance marathon because I know that she did,” Casey Crouse, IUDM president, said. 

IUDM, now in its 19th year, is a 36-hour event where volunteers do whatever they can to stay awake and standing, including dancing, singing and participating in games.

Each dancer is encouraged to raise at least $500 in donations, and the total amount raised is unveiled at the end of the event.

Casey Crouse said that giving back is a common theme of IUDM, which not only honors the life of Ashley Crouse, but also Ryan White, an AIDS victim from Kokomo.

As a high school student, White had to fight prejudice and fear from students and administrators. He had planned to attend IU, but he died at age 18 in 1990.

“They are the fuel to the marathon,” Crouse said. “They are basically our inspiration so we are constantly reminded of why we do what we do.”

IUDM has become one of the largest student-run philanthropy events in the country, second only to Penn State’s annual THON dance marathon.

Since its inception, IUDM has raised more than $7 million for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, according to the IUDM Web site.

The event raised more than $1.37 million last year, it’s biggest single-year total to date.

“Within the next year or two, the center will be running completely off the funds raised by IUDM,” said senior Katherine Minton, vice president of events for IUDM.

More than 1,500 IU students will be involved with the event this year, almost 1,000 of whom will be dancers.

“The dancers are the heart of the marathon,” Crouse said. “We have countless activities for them to do to try and stay awake and on their feet.”

One of these activities involves inviting about 40 to 45 Riley families to share their stories of hardship and inspiration with the crowd, Crouse said. 

“I am able to have a personal connection with the Riley families that go through so much,” Director of Riley Development Daniel Hinds said. “They are the inspiration for the event. They are the reason for this in the first place.”