First a little bit about UNC-DM: Dance Marathon is the largest-run student philanthropy at UNC and we raise money all year long to benefit the N.C. Children's Hospital. We have 13 committees that work on different aspects of the marathon ranging from Community Events to Entertainment for the marathon to Publicity and Business Management. Each of our committees works throughout the year to raise money and awareness as well as volunteering at the hospital. We host tons of events and partner with other campus organizations to fundraise and spread our cause. This effort culminates in the marathon in February where over 1,500 dancers pledge to stand on their feet for 24 hours as a symbolic stand for the patients and families of the N.C. Children's Hospital. The marathon is much more than just standing though! There's lots of dancing, entertainment, and Morale takes the stage for the line dance and team competitions throughout the 24 hours. The last hour of the marathon is Family Hour where patients and their families come to tell us about the difference we've made in their lives before the final fundraising total is revealed at the end! 

Getting involved in UNC Dance Marathon has been the best decision of my college career. I signed up to be a dancer my first year and left the marathon in February set on joining the Morale committee my sophomore year. At the marathon, Morale is the committee responsible for pumping up the dancers and serving as teams captain for each of the 24 dancer teams made up of about 75 dancers each. I was selected for the Morale committee sophomore year and it made me fall even more in love with Dance Marathon. I never missed an event and realy embraced the DM family. We're all connected on this level of dedication to the cause that has served as the basis for many of my closest college friendships. My junior year, I missed the marathon because I was studying abroad in Italy. The weekend of the marathon in Febrary was my worst weekend of study abroad as I watched the marathon via the live online feed and wished I was there so badly! 

This year, I was fortunate enough to be selected as a member of the Overall Committee as the Morale committee chair. It has become the central part of my senior year and I love to work I get to do for DM everyday. My position on the Overall Committee with each of the other committee chairs has allowed me to see all the work that each committe does and how it comes together. I'm constantly inspired looking around at all the other committee chairs, committee members and dancers who are working to make a difference in the lives of the children and families of the N.C. Children's Hospital. It is a cause that makes me realize how much of an impact college students can make. 

It's hard to put into words how much Dance Marathon means to me. All the events, meetings, costumes and endless emails are pleasures rather than burdens because I get to be a part of this amazing cause and inspire others to join the movement! 

I really appreciate every donation and will make sure all those dollars go to helping the kids at the hospital! Having a child in the hospital is a very stressful event and easing that process in any way possible is a gift we're lucky to be able to give. As a member of the Overall Committee, I'll get to help choose which grants we'll support this year! To see a full list of the grants we are supporting this year, check out uncmarathon.org under the "Learn More" then "Where does the Money go" tab. You can learn more on our website and see some awesome multimedia on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/uncmarathon

Thank you so much for supporting my fundraising effort and making a difference in the life of a child!

For The Kids,

Maggie