Rutgers University Dance Marathon
The Rutgers University Dance Marathon, affectionately dubbed "DM," has quickly become one of the most anticipated events held at Rutgers as well as the largest student-run philanthropic event in the State of New Jersey. To date, the Rutgers University Dance Marathon has donated over 1.2 million dollars to Embrace Kids Foundation, formerly The Institute for Children.
The beginning of Dance Marathons at Rutgers University dates back to the spring of 1971. Three members of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity held the first Dance Marathon in the College Avenue Gym and they raised more than $18,000 for the American Cancer Society with the help of fellow fraternities. The ZBT dance marathon lasted for about ten years when the concept of a Marathon on the banks was lost until the fall of 1996.
Under the leadership of JoAnn Arnholt, the Dean of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA), discussion began with representatives from the Children's Miracle Network about restarting a Dance Marathon at Rutgers University. The project was initially delayed until the Spring of 1998 when Tony Solimine and Nicole Ahmed vowed that the first annual Dance Marathon would occur in March of 1999. Solimine volunteered to be the Director, and recruited the first steering committee consisting of ten members. The Steering Committee's year of hard work and dedication to excellence were rewarded when the Rutgers University Dance Marathon 1999 set the record for the total amount of goods, services and monies donated by any first year Dance Marathon at $113,000.
In 2000, the students agreed that a local charity would be a more appropriate beneficiary for the event. That year, the partnership with Embrace Kids Foundation (then known as The Institute for Children) began and continues to grow each year. Embrace Kids and the Rutgers students collaborate on various projects and events throughout the year, including a program that matches up student groups with patient families for social interaction, moral support and fun!
This year, Rutgers University Dance Marathon is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.
Visit EmbraceKids.org