RaiseRED at the University of Louisville Receives 2023 Partnership Award

Miracle Network Dance Marathon recognized top performing Dance Marathon programs at the Dance Marathon Leadership Conference (DMLC) held in St. Louis, MO from August 3-6.

Collaborative partnerships allow Dance Marathon organizations to increase fundraising, execute events, and provide new engagement opportunities for participants. The Partnership Award recognizes a program that made significant improvements to acquire, retain and renew partnerships in support of their Dance Marathon. RaiseRED at the University of Louisville demonstrates an outstanding partnership through their relationship with the University of Louisville’s Athletic Department!  

For several years, raiseRED has developed, grown and maintained a successful partnership with the University of Louisville Athletics Department, and last year this relationship contributed over $10,000 to their final fundraising total. By striving to ensure the partnership is a mutually beneficial relationship they have implemented strategic opportunities and activities that provide benefits to both organizations.  

The first of these opportunities is Volleyball court turns. While UofL’s Volleyball program continues to compete at the highest-level year after year, raiseRED supports them with court turns, where they flip the volleyball arena from practice mode to game mode. Each turn requires about 8 people who volunteer for about 2 hours and then receive $300 divided equally among the volunteers that go directly to their fundraising page to help them reach their minimum. This partnership also allows raiseRED to ensure the marathon is accessible by providing this as an alternative fundraising opportunity to all dancers.  

In addition to court turns, they partner with Athletics to hold student nights at various games throughout the year. At student nights, the program receives a certain number of tickets for raiseRED participants who receive free admission into the game along with the opportunity to table, share videos and do t-shirt tosses at half-time on the court/field to spread their mission in support of Norton Children’s Hospital. 

Lastly, they have partnered with the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) that serves as the leadership board for athletics. In exchange for athletes attending events and participating in fundraisers, the athletes are provided with service hours for the times they volunteer and raiseRED hosts an “Athletics hour” during the marathon to highlight and recognize the partnership. Congratulations, University of Louisville! 

University of Louisville presented a session on Partnerships at DMLC 2023. You can view a recording of that presentation here: https://youtu.be/PDJEC3JlqyE  

Miracle Network Dance Marathon is an international movement, involving over 400 colleges, universities and K-12 schools across the United States and Canada that fundraise for their local member hospital of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. These students work tirelessly throughout the year to raise funds one dollar at a time by making the ask to family and friends. Their hard work culminates in a celebration on campus or virtually, where participants can rally together as a community for their local member hospital of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Students involved in Dance Marathon gain valuable skills in fundraising, peer management, delegation, and philanthropy. Miracle Network Dance Marathon programs have collectively raised more than $350 million since 1991.