Best Student Organization: Dance Marathon

Best Student Organization

Dance Marathon

Gracie Bryant

For five years in a row, Dance Marathon has been voted by the Carolina community as the best student organization at the University of South Carolina.

Dance Marathon takes place at schools and colleges across the country to raise money for over 170 pediatric hospitals, according to the Miracle Network website.

Here on UofSC’s campus, Dance Marathon hosts a variety of fundraisers and events throughout the year to raise money for the Child Life Program at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. Since all of the funds stay local, the money raised by Dance Marathon all goes to help local kids and their families as they undergo serious health challenges. Multiple large-scale fundraising events throughout the year lead up to the grand finale, Dance Marathon’s Main Event, which is held in the spring. During the main event, students and Columbia residents join together for 14 hours of dancing and celebrating all that has been raised throughout the past year. If you choose to take part, be sure to wear comfortable shoes because no sitting is allowed!

According to Dance Marathon’s Garnet Gate page, in the past 22 years, UofSC Dance Marathon has raised more than $5.6 million to directly impact over 150,000 children across South Carolina. In 2019 alone, the organization raised $1,038,156.

So, as you stop to get a cookie from the bake sale on Greene Street or head to one of the percent nights held at restaurants across town, know that you are making a difference to a local child in need just by supporting your peers in a student organization

Provided by The Daily Gamecock