University of Iowa Dance Marathon Receives National Alumni Engagement Award

University of Iowa Dance Marathon was recently awarded the Alumni Engagement Award at the Miracle Network Dance Marathon Leadership Conference this past July. The Alumni Engagement Award recognizes a dance marathon organization and/or a dance marathon alumni organization that has made a successful effort to engage Dance Marathon alumni.

The University of Iowa Dance Marathon (UIDM) engages over 13,000 alumni each year through the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Alumni Group (DMAG). The group is comprised of a volunteer alumni board and regional liaisons to execute year-round engagement events and fundraising initiatives to further the mission of UIDM across the nation nearly raising $1 million dollars for the past eight years.

In 2019, UIDM celebrated its 25th anniversary and, with the help of UIDM student leaders, DMAG alumni members wrote a recap for each year of UIDM’s history and shared this recap through UIDM social channels and on the UIDM website each week in the 25 weeks leading up to the Dance Marathon event. These written recaps included personal stories, accomplishments, and facts about UIDM.

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At the Big Event for UIDM 2, members celebrated a $50.100.88 tote board — making a $19,100.88 increase from the first year. We are so proud of UIDM’s beginnings, and it’s because of these successes that we are able to continue our mission for our kiddos and families. ? #SilverSunday #SilverYearSummer

A post shared by UI Dance Marathon (@uidm) on Jul 22, 2018 at 9:16am PDT

“Through the ‘Dancers in Need’ program, alumni, working with Morale Captains, helped over 90 dancers, or participants, reach their fundraising minimum and punch their ticket to the Big Event,”  said UIDM Outreach Director, Alex Anderson. UIDM sends a spreadsheet out to alumni with each dancer who has yet to reach their fundraising minimum, with their organization, Morale team, and fundraising link listed. This allows alumni the ability to provide an opportunity for students to experience the incredible power of attending the Dance Marathon like they did when they were undergraduate students.

The DMAG is responsible for planning many events and activities during the Big Event for alumni including tours of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, an Alumni Family Room, a Closing Ceremony Watch Party, and the Silver Year Celebration in Kinnick Stadium. More than 250 alumni attended the Big Event weekend.

During this 25th year of DMAG, UIDM reached more alumni than ever before, with alumni raising over $100,000 for UIDM in 2019. Most importantly, alumni were reminded of the power of Dance Marathon and the effect it has on them.

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 $250 million–ensuring that no child or family fights pediatric illness or injury alone.

Learn more about Miracle Network Dance Marathon:

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