Transcription:
IU Kicks Off First Dance Marathon To Give A Lifetime of Chance.
On February 15-17, 1991, some Indiana University student leaders took a chance. That weekend Infraternity Council President Bryan Neale, Panhellenic Association President Kristi Engle, and student Alumni Council Vice President Jill Steward journeyed to State College, Pennsylvania to witness the number one student fund-raiser in the country – Penn State University’s Dance Marathon. The Marathon raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund, an organization that helps cancer patients through research and support. The purpose of the trip was to gather ideas for the development of Indiana University’s own dance marathon.
Upon their return, these student leaders formed the Indiana University Dance Marathon Council. It began as a steering committee of 15 students, selected for their prior campus involvement and leadership. With the support of the Indiana University Alumni Association and the Office of Student Activities, IUDMC has grown into an independent student organization consisting of more than five hundred students, working on one of ten different committees.
Although the planning began in February, the actual marathon will be held on October 25-27, 1991. All proceeds from the Marathon will go directly to Riley Hospital for Children at the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis to work toward the establishment of the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center.
White was a patient at Riley until his death in April 1990, at the age of 18. Just as the center is named in Ryan’s honor, I.U.’s marathon will be held in honor of Ryan. His mother, Ms. Jeanne White, told IUDMC members, “It is fitting that this event in remembrance of Ryan take place at Ryan’s favorite school.”
The hope and plan of the founding steering committee is for the dance marathon to become a long-standing tradition and permanent philanthropic event at Indiana University. Penn State’s Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropy in the nation. IUDMC has worked diligently with the hopes that they have created an event that will rival Penn State’s I.U.’s Dance Marathon is for the good of the school, for the good of the students, but most importantly, for the good of the children at Riley Hospital.
On this last weekend of October, approximately 250 Indiana University couples will gather at the I.U. Fieldhouse to dance the night (and the next day) away! The 1991 I.U. Dance Marathon will be the result of much hard work and dedication of numerous Indiana University students, and will give a Chance of a Lifetime to Give a Lifetime of Chance.
