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With the 2014 marathon year coming to a close, here are some thoughts from senior IUDM Executive Council members on how dance marathon has change their lives since joining the IUDM family: "IUDM has defined my college career. It's the most worthwhile thing I have ever done, and the greatest organization I have ever been a part of." Paige Daumeyer, Director of Hospitality "The grass is greener where you water it." -- Neil Barringham "I like this quote, and I think it relates well to IUDM because it's about investing in what's important to you and I think that's exactly what IUDM is about -- creating positive change for Riley and our Riley families." Laura Swartz, Director of Merchandising and Apparel "This beauty of this year’s marathon was that it showed the true power a group of 3,500 students can have when they rally behind a cause as important as pediatric health." Nick Kolar, Vice President of External "IUDM to me means working to actively change other peoples lives while changing your own life in the process. I have met some of the greatest people I know, grown as a leader and an individual, and had more fun than you can imagine all while working for such an incredible cause and organization. This organization has given back to me more than I could have ever imagined and has truly changed my life." Samuel Reed, Director of Entertainment "IUDM has defined my college experience at IU. The impact we are able to have on so many families affected by Riley Hospital, in addition to the countless relationships I have been able to establish with some of the best people on this campus, has made this experience truly special. The record-breaking numbers each year are just the icing on the cake." Alex Elias, Director of Accounting "IUDM has changed my life in so many ways, and i am forever in debt for the impact it has had on me." Ross Lubbers, Vice President of Events "IUDM means doing something for someone who can never repay you. IUDM is the best friends you've made, the families you've met, the inspiration you've felt, the smiles you've seen on a Riley kid's face, the lessons you can't learn anywhere else, but can apply everywhere else. IUDM means family." Sara Kinney, Director of Marketing "To me, IUDM and family are synonymous. Over the past three years, I have tried to give everything I have FTK, for Ryan and for Ashley, and IUDM has never failed to give back to me three times that. Strangers have become my best friends, it has put into perspective what really matters in life, and it has given me hope that a bunch of crazy college students can actually join together to do something incredible." Allison Winstel, Vice President of Finance "This year meant the world to me. The experiences I had throughout the year were incredible and culminated with the marathon. The memories made and the lives changed are without a doubt the most inspiring thing about IUDM 2014, and I could not imagine having a more meaningful experience in my four years here." Ben Stivers, Vice President of Internal "IUDM has given me my best friends, a family on campus, and a lifetime of memories. This organization has challenged me and encouraged me to always dream big and do more. I will always carry with me the smiles on the faces of the Riley kids and the gratitude of their families. More than anything, IUDM has taught me to do everything in life with a genuine passion, an appreciation for the small things, and a belief that a few people can change the world." Erin Schoemer, Director of Fundraising "Indiana University Dance Marathon has been a part of my life for the past four years. While my time being a part of the IUDM organization might be coming to a close as a student, I know my time with IUDM is not over. The IUDM family is something so special because it really does last for a lifetime. FTK ALC RW - all ways, always." Josie Tanner, Director of Stewardship "In my 4 years at Indiana University, IUDM has changed my college experience and who I am as a person in such a positive way! It has provided me with an opportunity to learn hands on leadership, empower me to better understand the impact you can create if you dedicate yourself to something, and help me achieve a higher sense of belonging and purpose all while allowing me to meet and work with some of my best friends and some of the best people I know. No matter how much I have given to IUDM the return is always 100 fold!" Jack Dooling, President "You think you know what courage is...until you see children who have gone through things that you could never have imagined -- and they're up on a stage in front of thousands of college students -- dancing, and singing, and laughing, and turning their story into a means of inspiration so other children can live better lives. That is what courage is, and that is just a small part of what makes this organization, this family, so special." Charlie Wagner, Director of Logistics "I have learned more about life from IUDM than I ever have in any class. I learned that if you focus on the good in yourself and in others, you can bring out the best part of everyone. I learned that when people feel inspired by a mission, no matter how far the reach or how impossible it may seem, they will accomplish it. Finally, I learned that sometimes the smallest people have the biggest lessons to teach. Thank you IUDM, for giving me more than I could ever repay you. For The Kids, For The Parents, For The Families and to Build Tomorrow's Dreams." Janaki Patel, Director of Riley Deveopment "You will never work with better people, for a better cause, for the rest of your entire life."
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With less than a month until the marathon, it’s hard to contain the excitement. For the past year, the IUDM community has been fundraising, planning, and preparing for another successful weekend and it’s becoming increasingly hard to sit still. Thankfully Alli Martino, the Media Chair for the Public Relations Committee, has created a way to keep dancers busy for the next few weeks. Since last fall, Martino has been developing IUDM’s Readership Campaign and establishing a partnership between our organization and the Indiana Daily Student. The IDS became a gold level sponsor, donating advertising space in their newspaper for IUDM to publish promotions for Riley at the Rock, recruitment call-outs, general awareness for the marathon, and for the marathon promotional tickets. The first promotional ticket was published on October 9, and there have been nine tickets published to date with the tenth being released sometime before this weekends marathon. They are published randomly and semi-weekly, and there is no prior announcement. The rules are as follows: 1. Each dancer can cut out a promotional ticket from the paper and write their name on it. 2. Dancers must hold on to their tickets and bring them to the marathon to be entered into the drawing. 3. You will be able to turn in your tickets from 10 PM Friday night to 1 AM Saturday morning and then again from 5 PM to 8 PM Saturday evening. 4. Throughout the marathon, winners will be chosen. Prizes include massages, gift cards, apparel, etc. 5. There are 10 different tickets, each one labeled with a different number. Dancers can only collect ONE of each number. For example, you cannot take ten of the same newspaper and cut out the same ticket ten times. If that newspaper features ticket #5, you can only take one ticket #5. Sounds fun right? But this contest is more than just fun. This campaign is more than just entertaining. The establishment of a partnership between the IDS and IUDM is huge and really speaks for the values of our organization. Yes, we do it for the kids and for Riley Hospital, but we are college students participating in a college organization and our involvement with our school is just as important and crucial to our success as our involvement with Riley. This campaign not only benefits the goals of IUDM and of the IDS, but more importantly connects two of the largest and most widespread IU student groups. “I never would have thought that conceptualizing and implementing a campaign could be so challenging, but in the end, the outcome is the best reward possible,” Martino said. “Nothing makes me happier than to hear people talking about this campaign and seeing my subcommittee members walk into our meeting with the campaign advertisements.” The goal is to collect 5,000 total ticket entries. Make picking up an IDS a part of your daily routine and be on the lookout for the last promotional ticket. See you in 4 days Written by Courtney Pories
As my journey with IU Dance Marathon comes to an end, I seem to be at a loss for words. Well, maybe not a total loss as I’ve been able to write this post. I’ve written about this amazing organization before, but I can’t help myself from doing it again. Each meeting we have leading up to the marathon, one or two committee members shares their ‘Why I Do This.’ And assuming you – the person who is reading this post – is a friend of mine, you have heard me talk about IUDM a million times over. But do you know why I do this? I dance because I was told I should. Freshman year, my sister to me join DM. Seriously, this is a reason. She badgered me my entire freshman year to dance and I didn’t do it. I’m still so mad at myself for that. Al – I can’t thank you enough for the pressure you put on me to give this organization a chance. I know it changed your college experience as much has it changed mine. Blood sisters, AXO sisters, and OMAM sisters – we really are almost too similar. I dance for Matt. My freshman year, a friend of mine passed away. Matt was such a light and his battle with cancer was unexpected and short. He would have been a freshman with us that year. I won’t pretend we were best friends because we weren’t. But Matt’s smile was undeniably warm and I was – I am – happy to call him a friend. The few months that Matt was in the hospital, I didn’t go see him. Another thing I can’t forgive myself for. Matt’s life was a gift to all of those who knew him, and it’s still not fair that he is gone. Since his passing, I’ve sworn to myself I do everything in my power to help those around me who need it. Dance Marathon is my way of doing that – of giving my time to those who deserve it. These kids DESERVE a weekend of laughter and smiles, and I have never regretted doing everything in my power to see that through. I dance because I believe in miracles. I’ve always said that I believe in miracles, but it wasn’t until recently that I truly understood what a true miracle was. As a part of IUDM, we are told that our time, our fundraising, our efforts – they all help ‘make miracles.’ That’s cool to hear, but really to me, all it meant that I was able to help fund a hospital so that doctors could do what they have been trained to do. That was my version of a ‘miracle.’ Recently, another friend of mine suddenly because very ill. His liver was failing and his brain was swelling and pushing on his spinal cord, which usually leads to loss of all brain activity. The day I went to visit Logan in the hospital in Indy, his family and my best friend Audi had just been told that all hope was lost. His pupils weren’t responding to light and the swelling in his brain was so bad that there was no way his brain could be undamaged. He was a vegetable. The doctors told us they would give it 24 hours and then they would pull the plug. Logan would be gone. As Audi and I drove home that night, we talked about how we wouldn’t give up hope. How we would keep praying for a miracle. And that’s exactly what we got. The next day, a spark of hope came with the reduction of Logan’s temperature and of the swelling in his brain. They decided to wait another day until the final decision was made. Day after day, Logan regained strength. Last week, I watched Audi FaceTime Logan and his dad, with Logan nodding his head to certain questions. A few days after that, he was able to breathe and speak on his own. The nurses at the hospital said they had never seen anything like his recovery. That is was unheard of for him to have no brain damage. The doctors and nurses would call in on their days off to check on his progress – amazed at each new success. So now I understand what a miracle truly is. And I’ve never been more proud to say that I help make miracles possible. I dance because of my family. I’m not talking about my biological family, although I am so very grateful for the support they’ve afforded me these past few years. I am talking about the family I have made on the IUDM Morale Committee. These people leave me speechless every single day with their compassion for the Riley kids and their drive to do more. I’m a firm believer in being big-hearted. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Life can be rough and people can hurt. But this committee makes being big-hearted looks like it’s the easiest thing in the world. They just love. They give and demonstrate and show love every hour of every day, no matter how they are feeling. Our committee is built on this love, and it causes us to have an unbreakable bond. So to my OMAM fam - You have changed my life forever. I will never be able to thank you for the joy you have given me, the passion you’ve helped me believe can exist, and the laughs I have every single day. When I was younger, we learned about poetry in one of my classes. I as a writer, I soaked it in. The poem below has always been my favorite (although I have removed a few sentiments to make it more applicable), but now it holds a different meaning because it summarizes the relationship I have built with you all over the past two years. I carry each and every one of your hearts with me every day. And I will forever. Always Morale. I carry your heart with me – I carry it in my heart. I am never without it; anywhere I go, you go, my dear. And whatever is done by only me is your doing. I fear no fate, because you are my fate. I want no world, for you are my world. And it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant, and whatever a sun will always sing is you.Here is the deepest secret nobody knows. Here is the root of the root, and the bud of the bud, and the sky of the sky of a tree called life, which grows higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide, and this is the wonder that is keeping the stars apart.I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart. – E.E. Cummings Written by Carolyn Di Buono To see the original post, visit Carolyn's Blog.
It’s well known how hundreds of IU students fundraise all year long for IU Dance Marathon, which last November donated a staggering $2.6M for the kids at Riley Hospital for Children. What may be a little less familiar, however, is how much of that IUDM total comes from high school dance marathons across the state. In fact, last year high school dance marathons across the state of Indiana have raised a record $466,999.90! An entire IUDM committee, Marathon Relations, manages IUDM’s affiliations with the high school marathons. “Weeks up until the marathons we mentor the schools and help to plan each of their marathons. At the marathon itself we teach the line dance, bring as much DM energy and spirit as we can, recruit high schoolers to participate in DM at the collegiate level, and connect with as many students as possible. We do everything we can to make each marathon whatever that specific school wants it to be. These marathons belong to the high schools and we always want to help their students to have the best time possible, while giving them the chance to find their love in dance marathon,” Michelle Turchan, Director of Marathon Relations and IU junior, said. Turchan graduated from Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, which hosted their first high school dance marathon in 2006, benefitting Riley Hospital for Children. Carmel Dance Marathon was started in honor of former Student Body President Ashley Crouse, who was an Executive Committee member of IUDM when she tragically passed away in a car accident on April 12th, 2005. Carmel Dance Marathon has since grown to become the largest high school marathon in the nation, raising $324,597.54 at their most recent marathon in February 2014. “Carmel Dance Marathon (CDM) has grown in attendance and popularity among the students in the school. It has become a year-round effort rather than an isolated event. It has become more than an event for those involved. It has become a lifestyle and a mindset of service to others,” student government advisor Sarah Wolff said. “I think that kids this age are looking for a reason or a venue to do something outside of themselves. Dance Marathon provides that for them. I think that genuinely kids ‘get it’: what it means to live for others and help those less fortunate than you, and that it can be fun and fulfilling at the same time.” Carmel Dance Marathon wouldn’t exist or be what it is today without IU Dance Marathon and Ashley Crouse, and similarly, IUDM wouldn’t be the same without the continual support and involvement from the students at Carmel High School and other marathons around the state. “Our donations go to IUDM due to our connection with Ashley Crouse. Many CDM alumni participate in and go on to lead IUDM in the future. IUDM helps facilitate CDM and assist in any way possible, from helping serve food at the marathon to providing the line dance,” Wolff said. “After participating in Carmel Dance Marathon for 4 years I knew I wanted to become a part of IUDM… My freshman year of high school I particularly remember talking to an IUDM student at our marathon and being in awe. Every year after that I thought it was the coolest thing in the world to see IUDM at our marathon. I loved everything about the fact that they took time on their Saturday to come to Carmel DM. I knew that without them I wouldn’t have had the chance to love dance marathon as much as I did. When the time came to go out for a committee I wanted to be a part of Marathon Relations because I wanted to give that same opportunity to someone that’s in high school now. I knew I owed it to them. Now as the Director of Marathon Relations, our high school students are a big part of 'why I dance'. They are my inspiration. The work I put in is for them, for I know that someone put in the same work when I was a high school student and gave me the chance to find my love in dance marathon. Thinking that my committee and I can bring that DM passion to our high school students gives me the inspiration to keep going,” Turchan said. High school marathons generally mirror IUDM’s structure, just on a smaller scale, with Riley speakers, high-energy activities, food, and a shortened version of the IU line dance. Most high school marathons span 4-9 hours in comparison to IUDM’s 36. High school students who are interested in starting a dance marathon at their school should reach out to [email protected]. Wolff’s advice on venturing into a dance marathon: “Take a risk. It will be worth it. It will be hard work, but extremely rewarding. Start small and work gradually to bigger things long-term. It isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon.” Written By Meredith Baranowski
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