Dance Marathon at Florida State University Receives 2020 Marathon Programming Award
Dance Marathon at Florida State University was awarded the Marathon Programming Award at Dance Marathon Leadership Conference 2020. The Marathon Programming Award recognizes an organization that implemented exceptional and engaging programming during their Dance Marathon event that positively contributed to the experience of everyone participating.
DM at FSU set out to create an engaging and inclusive environment for all of their participants at their event this year. The program did this successfully by setting up an intentional event floor plan, coaching Morale captains through meaningful interactions with participants, and booking entertaining main stage performances for the entirety of their event.
DM at FSU organized their event space so that they did not only have their main stage attracting participants’ attention, in fact, they had so much more! They set up an interactive fundraising space, where participants could see their names projected on a large screen if they were top fundraisers or completed challenges throughout the night, as well as see general updates on how In-Event fundraising was going over the course of the event. Within this area was the fundraising wall(s) where participants could engage and be recognized as they participated in fundraising. They also set up their “Play Like a Kid Area” featuring games and activities for participants during the event. Last but certainly not least, they have their Family Area, where participants can meet and hang out with Miracle Families.
A key part of the experience they strive to build for participants at the event is the Morale captains. DM at FSU equips Morale captains with fundraising resources and support materials so that they can lead participants through their full marathon experience. It is important that all participants have a dedicated leader for the entirety of the marathon, one that can answer questions, encourage them, and give them the best experience possible. This year, FSU started a new tradition entitled “The Perfect Marathon” in hopes of encouraging participants to get the most out of their marathon day. This tradition challenges participants to complete 7 tasks during their time at the event; the 7 tasks were designed in a way that they guide participants through In-Event fundraising and various other activities that take place over the course of the event.
As a necessary counterpart to all of these activities and areas in their event space, DM at FSU strives to plan a unique range of main stage entertainment acts. This past marathon, they had performances ranging from dueling pianos and a hypnotist to belly-dancing and acapella groups. The performers were groups from the campus community, the local community, and from their supporting high school communities.
Miracle Network Dance Marathon is an international movement, involving over 400 colleges, universities and K-12 schools across North America that fundraise for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since its inception in 1991, Miracle Network Dance Marathon has raised more than $300 million–ensuring that no child or family fights pediatric illness or injury alone.
Learn more about Miracle Network Dance Marathon: