Dance Marathon co-Chair Ann-Henley Saunders said that planning for this year's event, which garnered more than a quarter million dollars, began when "we walked out of Mem Gym last year."
Saunders said Dance Marathon "reinforces the meaning of collaboration and teamwork," speaking not only of the 17 members on the executive board, but of the many students and student groups that participated in the event.
Roughly 1,000 students came in and out during the event's "open hours" period, Saunders said. She estimated that 150 danced the entire night away.
"We took some risks this year and they paid off marvelously," fellow co-Chair Emily Longenecker said.
Prior to this year, Dance Marathon had raised a total of half a million dollars for the Children's Hospital. This year's donations raised the total to approximately $750,000. It is currently the University's largest single charity event.
According to Longenecker, it was community outreach that made this year's event even more successful than last year's marathon, which raised $162,000. She said the organization focused on working with CIO's and the Greek system to increase community awareness and raise money.
"We had meetings with organizations beginning last semester and set up Web sites for team giving," Saunders said.
An online competition was one of the new ways that Dance Marathon looked to increase donations this year. Between 35 and 40 "teams" of organizations around Grounds set up Web sites to donate Monday. Saunders called their participation "unbelievable," and said that Internet giving represented a "huge transformation" for Dance Marathon.
Saunders and Longenecker both talked about corporate sponsorship as a source of this year's success. The organization received $15,000 of in-kind donations for giveaways. Apple, for instance, donated IPods.
Longenecker said that "establishing connections around Virginia" with corporate sponsors is one of the many "new and innovative ideas" that Dance Marathon is looking to build upon for next year's event.
"Several alumni came back this year," Saunders said, adding that connections between Dance Marathon and University alumni offer another way Dance Marathon can expand its donation base in the future.
"I never see an end for my relationship with DM," Saunders said.
Saunders looks to remain involved in the event next year.
"I'll do as much as I can without overstepping my bounds," she said.
Longenecker is excited about next year's event. After "a couple weeks of down time when we'll make sure that everything is in order," the organization will start selecting next year's executive board, she said.
With regard to who will get next year's top positions, Saunders said there are "several people with their hearts in the right place."
Her advice to the future members is to sleep and "take some time to sit back and revel in each of the successes" along the way.
"There are always things that you could have done better," Saunders said. "Those are the places where you can start the next time."
Longenecker said Dance Marathon is looking for people who "bring different perspectives" and it is "always great to have influence from CIOs and the Greek system" on the organization's executive board.
"The great thing about Dance Marathon is its large potential for growth," Saunders said, already looking forward to next year.
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