Volume 5, Issue 9

April 2014

THANK YOU
In This Issue
Press Rewind Wonder what UNC-DM was up to last month? Catch up on Marchs events. Page 2 Executive Director Letter Read former Executive Director Liz Goslins final remarks on the year and what she sees for the future of UNC-DM. Page 2 Flashback Relive some of the 2014 Marathons greatest moments. Page 3 Grant Spotlight This month, were featuring our Parents Night Out grant. Page 4 Why I Stand Check out why Publicity committee member Breeze Riley stands, For the Kids. Page 4 Twitter Tales See the social media you missed out on during the marathon! Page 6

to everyone who helped make the 16th annual UNC Dance Marathon the best its ever been.
The mission of The UNC Dance Marathon is to unite the University, community and state in fostering emotional and financial support that improves the quality of life for the patients, families and staff of N.C. Childrens Hospital.

Special Invitation
Sub-Chair Applications Be on the lookout for sub-chair applications in April. For the Kids Stay tuned to our social media and blog to learn about where money raised over the past year will go. Summer Newsletter The summer 2014 issue of the UNC Dance Marathon newsletter will feature the new members of the Executive Board.

Visit Online Photo by Elizabeth Windsor| Kid Co-Captain Jake sings the alma mater to dancers during www.uncmarathon.org the kid co-captain talent show for the 2013 Follow Us

Marathon. The 2014 Marathon is only three days away, March 21-22!

Visit Online www.uncmara-

I have long said I believe quitting is a learned behavior. Quitting is something I will never teach any of my children, and obviously the same goes for all of these other kids here tonight and who are in that hospital right now, fighting whatever their battle is they are refusing to give in. We may stumble, we may fall, but as long as we get up and keep going we have never quit.
- Tony Arthur, father of kid co-captain Caelon

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, please contact 2014 Publicity Chair Renee Montpetit, at publicity@uncdm.org.

April Newsletter | 2
Get Caught Up - March Highlights

Photo by Kelsey Davis | March 18 was officially UNC Dance Marathon Day in Chapel Hill. Both Ben and Jerrys and Bluetique had benefit events throughout the day. Proceeds went to UNC-DM and the patients and families of N.C. Childrens Hospital.

Photo Courtesy of N.C. Childrens Hospital| N.C. Childrens Hospital painted an incredible 100-foot mural to celebrate the many members of UNC Dance Marathon and their 16 years of service to the hospital. The mural is an area of the hospital that is frequented by thousands of people every day. The mural was dedicated on March 19, and members of the Executive Board were in attendance.

Photo by Erin Meyer| Committee members spent the night before the marathon taping banners to the walls of Fetzer Gym. Did you know that 507 banners were hung and 21 miles of duct tape were used for the marathon?

Executive Director Final Remarks

f asked to sum up the past year with UNC Dance Marathon, there are two words that come to mind: remarkable and unforgettable. For the first time in our history, we surpassed the $500,000 mark, raising a grand total of $551,595.87. This is a tremendous milestone for not only our organization, but also for the patients and families served by North Carolina Childrens Hospital. I will never forget the reaction of everyone in Fetzer Gym, from my parents and sister to the dancers, when the Executive Board revealed the final total for the year. I have never felt so much energy and enthusiasm in one place. That speaks volumes not only to what everyone accomplished this year, but also to the bright future UNC Dance Marathon has ahead of it. To everyone who helped us get there, thank you. You are UNC Dance Marathon and the reason we continue to thrive and grow year after year. This year would not have been so

By Liz Goslin

successful without the incredible and impressive work of our committee members, the support of our new and returning partners, advice from our alumni, guidance from Dr. Jacob Lohr and Dr. Julie Byerley (our wonderful faculty advisors!), assistance from our Board of Directors, the dedication and drive of the Executive Board, and, of course, our dancers whose 24-hour symbolic stand means just as much if not more than the total amount raised. This organization has changed my life forever. It was an honor to serve in the role of Executive Director this year and I know Evan Sherwood will do a fantastic job next year. The memories I have made are some of the fondest I havefrom serving dinner to families on Tuesday nights to raving with dancers at 11:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning. While there are many things that make me extremely proud and humbled to have had the opportunity to be a piece of the UNC Dance Marathon puzzle, perhaps one of its greatest strengths (and my favorite parts!) is the passion it instills in others, and the outlet it provides for Carolina students to make a tangible

Photo by Marissa Techmeier| Former Executive Director Liz Goslin and the newly announced 2015 Executive Director Evan Sherwood sitting down after the final reveal at the marathon. Stay tuned for a full list of the 2015 Executive Board!

impact on their community. While this year may be coming to a close, I know the future and what comes next is already on the minds of students on this campus, myself included. I cannot wait to see how next year and future years will build on the successes of the 2014 UNC Dance Marathon because of the thousands of students who will carry it forward and take it to places we dont even know it can go.

April Newsletter | 3
Marathon Highlights

HOUR 0 HOUR 1 HOUR 6 HOUR 9 HOUR 10 HOUR 11

Before the marathon even started, Footloose star Kevin Bacon sent a video shout-out to the dancers to offer words of encouragement before the 24 hour stand began. Tony Arthur, parent of kid co-captain Caelon, delivered the kick-off speech. Dancers enjoyed watching the Mens Basketball Team compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and bring home a victory over Providence. The Morale committee also taught the line dance. Dancers were able to go outside to Hooker Fields for the first-ever Midnight Magic! Anyone on campus was welcome to come and enjoy a free screening of Peter Pan complete with popcorn. Each of the 13 committees showed off their committee dances. During Senior Hour, seniors were recognized and danced on stage to the hit songs of the 90s. All of the dancers headed outside to Kenan Stadium to watch the sunrise and get reenergized for the second half of the marathon.

Photo by Kendall Clark| Saturday was a perfect day for dancers to go outside and help relieve their feet. Some enjoyed playing with the dogs from UNC Helping Paws.

HOUR 16 HOUR 20 HOUR 23

DJ EverVida, a long-time UNC-DM favorite and now alumnus, took the stage to DJ during Alumni Hour for the midmorning rave, complete with plenty of glow sticks to go around. Dancers went out to Hooker Fields to enjoy the warm sunshine, dogs from UNC Helping Paws and ice cream from Ben and Jerrys. The Kid Co-Captains performed their own talent show for all the dancers. There were songs, dances, gymnastics and jokes for everyone to enjoy. The last hour of the marathon is always Family Hour. During this time, all of the Kid Co-Captains and their families were introduced on stage. Then, a few of the parents shared their stories to tell dancers about their experiences with UNC-DM. Finally, the Executive Board revealed the final total, $551,595.87, marking the first time the organization ever raised over half a million dollars. And then at last, dancers got to sit down!

HOUR 24

Photo by Marissa Techmeier| Kid Co-Captain Jake performed some of his many jokes during the talent show. Jakes joke book sold for over $50,000 at the UNC-DM Benefit Reception back in January!

Your Wish Is Granted - Parents Night Out

By Marleigh Cannon

April Newsletter | 4

arents Night Out is one of UNC Dance Marathons ongoing grants. It aims to provide families in N.C. Childrens Hospital with a free hot meal once a week. Parents often use PNO as a way to leave their rooms and interact with other parents. However, if a parent does not wish to leave his or her childs side, UNC-DM volunteers will deliver the meal. UNC-DM funds and sends volunteers to PNO half of the year while Volunteer Services provide funds and services for the other half of the year. In total, 7,234 meals were served at PNO throughout the past year. Hospital Chair Candace Gentry attributes the extra month before the marathon for an increase in meals served this year.

Photo by Erin Meyer| Hospital Chair Candace Gentry (middle) with Hospital commitee subchairs Ryan Joyce and Michele Bresler. All three were usually present at Parents Night Out this year. PNO aims to provide families in N.C. Childrens Hospital with a free hot meal once a week.

the marathon, Gentry said. With help from Volunteer Services, who funds the grant for the She said said families at the second half of the year when Dance hospital are appreciative and amazed Marathon is over, we were able to of UNC-DMs efforts through this grant. provide volunteers until the week of

Why I Stand : Reflections from the 2014 Marathon

By Breeze Riley

marathon. You know that your efforts support the N.C. Childrens Hospital, woke up the day after but especially for first-year dancers the marathon, and after there is often a disconnect between standing for 24 hours my feet didnt hurt. And thats the standing for 24 hours and what that action represents. the point. Even as a second-time dancer As much of a and committee member, I too sacrifice as the needed the marathon to remind marathon can me why it is that myself and my seem while youre peers stand. doing it, the next As I sat down the day day you go back to after the marathon to normal life. write a reflection about my You sacrifice experience, I didnt know those 24 hours Riley is a member of the where to start. Should I write with the hope that Publicity committee and a about the work we do on the you can begin to second-time dancer. Publicity committee? The understand why it marathon itself? is youre standing. But I realized that as important as You stand for the patients and those things, the how and what families who have to live with the of the marathon, are they will never complications of whatever medical be as important as the why of the issue the patient is dealing with marathon. every day. FTK. For the Kids. Its easy to forget that reason In the end you dont celebrate how in the months leading up to the

much money you raised or how long you stood. You celebrate the patients and families UNC-DM has been able to help since 1999 and the patients and families it will serve in the future.

For the Kids Story

Eight-year-old David was very healthy boy, but he had swelling on his brain for unknown reasons. He was neurologically devastated for quite a while and needed acute rehab in Charlotte after being bed-bound for more than three months. His dad had to return to work, and his mom needed to be at rehab with David so that she could participate and learn his needs. David had a 16-monthold baby sister, but his parents couldnt afford child care needed for Davids dad to be able to work. The For the Kids Fund paid for a month of child care so that Davids mom could be with him at rehab.

April Newsletter | 5
Marathon By the Numbers

7234 6288 2034 1283 508 507 352 231 55 48 37 33 21 16 6 1

MEALS SERVED AT PNO FUNDRAISING LETTERS DANCERS HOURS CANNING 5K & FUN RUN PARTICIPANTS BANNERS HUNG COMMITTEE MEMBERS MOTIVATORS & VOLUNTEERS HOSPITAL EVENTS PERFORMERS FUNDRAISING EVENTS KID CO-CAPTAINS MILES OF DUCT TAPE YEARS MINI-MARATHONS CAUSE

Twitter Tales

April Newsletter | 6 #UNCDM2014

Following
2,807 TWEETS 967 FOLLOWING 2,403 FOLLOWERS

UNC Dance Marathon

@UNCDM
UNC Dance Marathon is the largest student-run fundraiser at UNC-Chapel Hill. Our efforts benefit the patients and families at N.C. Childrens Hospital.
Chapel Hill, N.C. - http://www.uncmarathon.org

Interactions
Katie Quine @UndeniablyKatie More than 24 hours after #UNCDM2014, I still have moments when I scare myself after noticing that Im sitting down. Cant sit, wont sit.
8:59 PM - 23 Mar 14

Soumya @soo_umm_yeh And the tears have started. LOVE THESE KIDS AND ALL THEIR TALENTS #UNCDM2014
4:32 PM - 22 Mar 14

Caroline Inman @karokine_inman Still cant get over how perfect #UNCDM2014 was. A huge thank you and congrats to everyone involved!! FTK forever and always
6:18 PM - 23 Mar 14

Kathy Ellis @kackellis Thank you so much for standing! Jake cant wait to see you soon. Go Wrecking Belles!! #UNCDM2014 #FTK
11:48 AM - 22 Mar 14

Emily Burgner @Eburgggs 24 hours of standing. 41 hours of no sleep. Over half a million dollars raised. The experience of a lifetime. #UNCDM2014 #FTKallDMday
10:06 PM - 22 Mar 14

Seth Bumgarner @sethbumgarner So proud of my fellow Tar Heels at #UNCDM2014! Yall are incredible! Its a #GDTBATH! #FTK
11:29 AM - 22 Mar 14

Whitley Burleson @WhitleyBurleson So blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization. CANT WAIT until next year! #FTK #UNCDM2014
6:55 PM - 22 March 14

Love Chapel Hill @lovechapelhill Just saw @kevinbacon gave @UNCDM a shout out! Rock on yall! Much love #FTK #UNCDM2014!
7:15 PM - 21 Mar 14

Sara Salinas @ssalinas813 Its happening. Were sitting down. #UNCDM2014

Amanda Scuderi @AmandaScuderi No better way to watch the UNC vs Providence game than with 2,000 friends at #UNCDM2014! Lets go heels!
7:03 PM - 21 Mar 14

6:47 PM - 22 Mar 14

Rachel Daniel @RedWhiteANdRae Family Hour is when 365 days of work is justified by a single smile. #UNCDM2014 #FTK
4:53 PM - 22 Mar 14

Ani Garrigo @AniGarri And it begins. Officially checked in for the craziest 24 hours of my life. #UNCDM2014
5:53 PM - 21 Mar 14

April Newsletter | 7
Meet The Team
Left to right: Renee Montpetit, Breeze Riley, Kelly Crupi, Elisabeth McFarland, Haley Waxman, Marleigh Cannon and Hannah Wallace

2014 Copy Edit Sub-Chair

2014 Publicity Chair

Thank you to our sponsors!

Coastal Federal Credit Union Carolina Dining Services Underground Printing Louise Beck Properties Lab Corp Brueggers Ben & Jerrys Berry Plastics 02 Fitness Tar Heel Photobooth Red Bull Jimmy Johns Carolina Athletic Association Southpoint Mall 5 Hour Sample Panera Bread Bevello Monster Kaplan Sigma Sigma Sigma Alpha Chi Omega Delta Sigma Theta Cheerwine 5-Hour Energy Expressions Delta Delta Delta Kappa Kappa Gamma Lilly Pulitzer at Southpoint

Thank you to our presenting partner, Coastal Federal Credit Union, for their support For the Kids!

The summer 2014 issue of the UNC Dance Marathon newsletter will feature the new members of the Executive Board and new initiatives funded by money raised at the 2014 Marathon. For more coverage of the 2014 Marathon, check out our website, blog and social media accounts. We hope you have enjoyed this year!