Elon students raised more than $105,000 this spring; the check was given to the hospital at the final College Coffee of the academic year.
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Leaders of Elon University’s annual ELONTHON 24-hour dance marathon presented a ceremonial check on May 8, 2012, to a representative of the children’s hospital for which hundreds of their classmates raised money this year.
Event co-directors Allie Weller, Margaret Rowland and Jerry Morant gave the nearly $105,400 raised by the dance marathon to Duke Children’s Hospital representative Keri Christianson. Christianson was on campus to receive the gift during the final College Coffee of the academic year.
“We’re very proud of these guys. It’s amazing to see what they do as college students when they take this program and run with it,” Christianson said moments after receiving the check. “It’s great for the kids because they know that when they’re in the hospital, the students here are still supporting them.”
ELONTHON was held April 13-14, 2012, in Alumni Gym.
The first Dance Marathon for charity began in 1973 at Penn State University when students planned an event to raise money for Hershey Medical Center. A few years later, in 1977, the idea caught on at Indiana University where a fundraiser benefited Riley Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Since then, Dance Marathon has become a popular fundraising event at more than 150 high schools and universities across the country, all benefiting their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. This spring marked the 10th anniversary of Elon University’s program.
“ELONTHON gives Elon students a way to learn there’s more around us than just the campus community,” said Weller, a university junior. “We try to give people a way to give back to those less fortunate.”
Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network fund medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year.