[photo: Dance Marathon 2007]

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the annual St. Louis area Dance Marathon. Held at Wash.U., the event brings dancers, donors, families, and teams from all over the city – not just from WU, and not just other area colleges. The event, which lasts 12 hours, is a non-stop dance fest. In the weeks before DM, dancers have been working hard to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network, the institution that gets the proceeds from the event. This year will be the 10th for DM in St. Louis. Last year the dancers raised over $176,000, and of course, the organizers (WU students!) are hoping to surpass that this year.

Dancers write letters/e-mails for donations from friends and family, hold fund-raising events such as bake sales and car washes, and even stand outside of grocery stores for hours asking for donations. This year, DM is hoping to expand its fundraising operations and possibilities with a new strategy – donation by text messaging!

Until October 27th (so you have a few days!), if you text the word “dance” to 90999, $5 will be donated to Dance Marathon’s fundraising total. You’ll get a text asking you to confirm your donation, and then a one-time charge will be added to your cell phone bill and donated directly to the Children’s Miracle Network. The dancers will be asked to do this during the event, but this is such a great way for them to more actively involve their friends and family members. Who doesn’t have time for a text message?

This is a great idea which I’m sure will shoot DM fundraising totals through the roof! And (even though the final total won’t be calculated at the event) the DM exec board has a chance to raise a few more dollars even after DM is over.



Dance Marathon is an exceptional event that brings together our campus, our community, and our city around a special cause – helping children. The proceeds stay in the Saint Louis area, going to two local children’s hospitals: St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. If you’re not participating as a dancer, or if you can’t visit (highly recommended – it is an electric and fun event!), then please take a few seconds from your day to text “dance” to 90999 and help a good cause through a brilliant strategy.