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Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM) is arguably one of the most important events in Bloomington during the school year. For a school constantly riddled with a reputation of outrageous parties and recklessness, it is enormously important to continue to recognize student’s devotion to this organization. Frequently, headlines of bad behavior and danger outlive all the good that happens here on campus. IUDM serves as an excellent opportunity to change this fact. For example, prior to IUDM 2013, the Indiana Daily Student (IDS) published a story following one member of the Greek community through a day of relentless partying and embarrassing conduct. Consequently, Greek life, women, and IU as a whole, were illustrated in a poor light. However, what the IDS failed to capture over that same time period, where countless number of Greek community members selflessly pushing themselves to fundraise and make a positive difference for children at Riley Hospital for Children, whom most students had never even met. It is moments like this that IU and the media often overlook. Aside from the rewarding experience of fundraising, IUDM builds community among campus that is unrivaled. Often times, it bridges the gaps amongst various groups on campus. Those seeking to meet people outside of their current friend group can be assured that a special bond will be made during their time with IUDM. There is no other way to explain the phenomenon that many refer to as the “IUDM Family.” Furthermore, IUDM continuously provides students with an opportunity to gain leadership experience that they may not receive otherwise. Those who choose to actively participate quickly learn that IUDM has perfected the balance of real-world experience while not being too demanding. The amount of time and effort put into the IUDM experience is totally up to the participant. While many would agree that the more, the better, one can just as easily have a good time and develop skills tailored to their interests by only taking on what their workload allows. The skills gained from IUDM can range from interpersonal to intrapersonal. IUDM participants not only develop their ability to communicate with others, but also learn a lot about themselves, and what they are capable of. For instance, while at the marathon, hour 26 may seem especially long and trying, but when a Riley Family tells their story of heartbreak and perseverance in front of everyone, most dancers report finding an inner strength to help them continue on. And as for fundraising, many participants have never actually done it on as grand of a scale before. It pushes students outside of their boundaries; pushes students to reach out in order to build something that is bigger than they are. IUDM is a great educator. It teaches students that it is not the drunken weekends or football tailgates that are significant in life but the time spent giving back to others. Students learn what perseverance truly is, both through fundraising and standing for those who can’t during the 36-hour marathon. IUDM teaches students what is truly important. Written by Kelsey Frank
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In 1991, Jill Stewart started Indiana University Dance Marathon to commemorate the life of her friend, Ryan White, and his battle with HIV. Stewart met White during his time in Cicero, Ind., and thought of no better way to honor him and carry on his name than to create a fundraiser that raises money for children fighting infectious diseases. Ryan White passed away from an AIDS related illness on April 8th, 1990 and just over one and a half years later, in October 1991, Stewart kicked off what would become the second-largest student organized philanthropy in the nation—IUDM. In its first year, IUDM raised $10,900 and doubled the following year. In 1995, the organization broke the $100,000 mark, raising just over $140,000—a significant increase from the $96,000 raised in the previous year. In 2007, the students and donors of the marathon hit $1 million—a benchmark for the philanthropy. The marathon made history again in 2012, when $2.12 million was raised. Since its inception, IUDM has thrived, raising more than $17 million for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Ind. Riley Hospital is a Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) affiliate. CMN has raised more than $2.2 billion for 170 children’s hospitals in North America. Riley is a nationally ranked hospital and has been recognized year after year for its exceptional care. For its 2013-2014 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” U.S. News & World Report placed Riley Hospital for Children as a top hospital in the country for 10 different departments. This included but is not limited to: pulmonology as 15th, diabetes & endocrinology as ninth and urology as fifth. Live for today, dance for tomorrow is IUDM’s 2013 motto. Each year more than 3,000 students stand on their feet for the duration of the 36-hour marathon and dance for those who cannot. Almost 1,000 committee members work within 17 committees throughout the year leading up to the marathon to raise money, awareness and to create a sense of community. Selfless work, dedication and proactivity are just a few qualities of students, parents, faculty and donors that drive the marathon each fall. In November 2014, IUDM will be carried out for the 24th time at Indiana University and history will surely be made again. If you would like to learn more information about IUDM, please visit www.iudm.org! Written by Kassandra Chronis Whether you are exploring the world, testing out corporate waters with your internship, or working hard to save up money for next semester, summer is the best--yet most under utilized—way to get ahead on summer fundraising. When everyone returns to Bloomington and IUDM season kicks into high gear there will be roughly 80 days until the marathon. Year after year it’s obvious that the best fundraisers are the people who take advantage of the three (plus) months of summer ahead. Here are five ways you can kick of your summer fundraising: 1. Send out your letters ASAP If you haven’t done it yet, write your letters now! Once you have the basic letter down, everything else falls into place. Address your envelopes, grab some stamps and send them on their way. Don’t forget to include your Convio link for quick donations. Letters take half the time you ever expect them to, and pay off big time in the long run! 2. Summer Canning If you live in Indiana or the Chicago area, grab a bucket and head out! Just remember to email [email protected] to confirm the location, and be sure to check with the business! 3. Start a coin jar Set aside the change you normally accumulate and at the beginning of the school year turn it into the IUDM office. Every cent counts, and this is an easy way to add them up. You’ll get bonus points if you get your family or roommates to contribute too! 4. Sell your clothes Everyone has clothes they just don’t wear anymore. Instead of letting them linger in your closet, round them up and sell them back to Plato’s Closet. A few pairs of jeans you haven’t worn since high school could mean big bucks for your total. Same rules apply for garage sales and EBay! 5. Have a job? Whether it be saving 5% of every paycheck for your total or having your company participate as a corporate sponsor or corporate match, having a job can create another perfect opportunity to fundraise. If you don't have a job, donate time to do work for others and then put that money away toward your summer goal. There are plenty of people who would be more than willing for you to mow their lawns, water plants or even wash their cars 6. Check your email Throughout the summer, IUDM will send different canning and fundraising opportunities as they come up. Take advantage of as many of them as possible! Bonus: if you ever get stuck, or need help ask your fundraising chair or director for help. They’ll do just about anything to help you reach your goal, but they can’t read your mind. Have a wonderful summer, and happy fundraising!!! All last week, IUDM remembered and celebrated the lives of Ryan White and Ashley Louise Crouse. Everything culminated Friday afternoon with the annual “Walk to Remember”, where IUDM committee members joined together for a walk around campus, similar to what was done following Ashley’s untimely death in 2005. It was a picture-perfect day, with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s. Committee members hugged, reunited and took pictures with their own committees and with friends on other committees as they waited for the walk to start. Students could sign posters, writing down what they think of when they thought of Ryan and Ashley. Those posters will be given to the White and Crouse families to show that their legacies live on through IUDM. Before the walk actually began, Chris Holland president of the IUDM Alumni Board, told everyone that one of the things that makes IUDM so special is the community it creates. We were walking to remember Ashley as a member of our family. The walk began in front of the Kappa Kappa Gamma house, where Ashley was a member and very close to where the tragic accident occurred. From Kappa, we walked from Third Street to North Jordan Avenue and continued all the way up Jordan, past all the Greek houses and through the Jordan extension. Once we reached the end of the extension, we took Fee Lane to 10th Street and came down Woodlawn Avenue. We walked around the Indiana Memorial Union and past the Sample Gates before turning down the final stretch of Third Street and returning to the Kappa house. My favorite part about the walk (well, besides the exercise) was reconnecting with old friends and getting to know a few members of my own committee a little bit more. It took about 90 minutes to complete the walk, but with the beautiful weather and members of the IUDM family by my side, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Written By Alyssa Schor
When Ashley Louise Crouse’s life was tragically taken by a drunk driver, the IU community mourned her loss. Fast-forward nine years, and her spirit still strongly lives on through the work of IUDM. On April 12th, the anniversary of her heartbreaking accident, there was no better way to honor Ashley then to run or walk in remembrance for her, for Ryan and For the Kids. The 2nd annual FT5K run/walk brought many IU students, Bloomington community members and even state wide participation to the red tailgating lot on Saturday morning. To help community members who were not aware of IUDM to understand the mission of the organization, the Ditz family was invited to speak the morning of the event. Their story, like many other families, highlighted how Riley Hospital for Children changed their lives. A brand new course design, prizes and entertainment are a few examples of the changes that took place to make the FT5K a continuing and successful event. After the participants traveled down Fee Lane, up Jordan Avenue and down the Jordan extension, they were greeted at the finish line with ice-cold water, bagels, and fruit. Participants were then encouraged to watch some of the musically talented IUDM committee members perform on stage as well as help congratulate the top three male and top three female finishers as they received their prizes. The unusually high temperatures and clear skies brightened the atmosphere to the already joyful attitudes of participants who ran and walked. With the FT5K being a stepping-stone for the marathon in the fall, it gave a clear indication into the organization’s drive to make this marathon the best one yet. Written by Maddie Wojtalewicz Nine years ago, on April 12, 2005, the Indiana University campus suffered a tremendous loss. Ashley Louise Crouse, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and IUDM Executive Council, became our angel. On her way home from her IUDM meeting, Ashley was struck by a drunk driver outside of her Kappa home. For those who knew Ashley, they will always remember her warm smile, welcoming personality and passion for life. As VP of Communications on the IUDM Executive Council, Ashley worked hard for a cause she believes in. Ashley's hometown of Carmel, Indiana has joined with IUDM to create one of the most successful high school dance marathons in the country. We honor her life and the way she lived by wearing her initials, ALC, on all IUDM apparel and literature. When you see Ashley's initials, remember to live each day to it's fullest and to never stop reaching for your dreams. Her legacy will continue to live on our hearts and minds. Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM) was established to memorialize the courageous life and story of Ryan White. Ryan was a typical 13-year-old Hoosier when he contracted AIDS through contaminated blood transfusions he received for hemophilia. When news of his diagnosis became public, his school district in Kokomo, Indiana denied him the right to return to classes. The ensuing court battles made headlines across the country and national celebrities like Michael Jackson and Elton John befriended Ryan and advocated on his behalf. Ryan was not just fighting against his school district, but a fearful, misinformed community. Ryan won the right to return to school, but this battle with the community and the disease itself had just begun. The White’s struggled through many traumatic experiences at the hand of the people in their community. The family dealt with the fear and anger of these people on a daily basis hoping that eventually things would return to normal. However, after a bullet was fired into the White home, the family moved to Cicero, Indiana, where they found peace. Throughout his own struggles with the disease and public misconceptions, Ryan spoke out. He combated bigotry with calls for compassion and appeared at schools and fundraisers across the country. He even testified before the President’s Commission on AIDS. After a courageous struggle, Ryan White died on April 8, 1990, the spring before he had planned to attend Indiana University. His fight to help those afflicted with infectious diseases is continued, in part, by the Indiana University Dance Marathon Council. In memory of Ryan’s life and work, the annual Dance Marathon benefits Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and established the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center. Since it's establishment in 1991, IUDM has gone on to become the nations second-largest student run philanthropic organization and raise more then $17 million for the center. Every day hundreds of students continue to fight in honor of this brave young man. Rest in Peace, Ryan. You will forever live in our hearts. In 2013, Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM) raised over $2.6 million on behalf of Riley Children’s Foundation; the organization has also been recognized as the second largest student-‐run philanthropic effort in the United States. That being said, IUDM presents Indiana University students with an incredible opportunity to get involved and showcase their talents. Positions are offered on Committees ranging from Public Relations and Accounting to Catering and Recruitment. When planning a 36‐hour event, a wide variety of skills are needed. You may even want to just dance! These positions offer a multitude of opportunities to support a cause that directly impacts the lives of children treated at Indianapolis’ Riley Hospital for Children. Moreover, IUDM is a great opportunity to meet fellow students devoted to the idea of standing for those unable to stand for themselves. Social events such as the FT5K, Rockin' For Riley and the Gala—held in October—allow participants to make new friends have fun all while helping a great cause. Leadership positions are available to talented candidates hungry to make a difference and embody the mission of Indiana University Dance Marathon. You are strongly encouraged to apply for IUDM 2014 if you wish to experience a cause that will truly change your life. Dancer positions are now open and awaiting for you to start your Dance Marathon journey. Come join the family and learn what FTK is all about! There will be dancer call out meetings Sunday, April 6th and Sunday, April 27th at 7:30 in Woodburn Hall! For more information, please visit our website at www.iudm.org and if you are interested in becoming a dancer please contact Mitch Merritt at [email protected]! Written by Jonathan Fishman
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