Dance Marathon perseveres beyond limits
February 21, 2021
UGA students raise more than $1.4 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Nearly 2,500 students representing more than 50 student organizations gathered virtually on Zoom along with a select few student leaders in person in Tate Student Center Grand Hall Sunday morning to celebrate raising $1,427,386.91 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
In the midst of fundraising challenges for many philanthropies because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is an expectation-shattering total for UGA Miracle, the University of Georgia’s largest student-run philanthropy.
Beginning at noon on Saturday, Feb. 20, and lasting until early Sunday afternoon, a few dozen socially distanced student leaders spaced out across the Tate Center as thousands more students, faculty, staff and members of “Miracle Families” joined online for UGA Miracle’s annual Dance Marathon. Throughout the night, participants danced, enjoyed live music an
It is that time of year again for the UGA Miracle 26.2-hour Dance Marathon. However this year will look a lot different than marathons of the past.
UGA Miracle, the largest student-led philanthropy at the University of Georgia, will host its 26th annual dance marathon on Saturday, Feb. 20 starting at noon. But unlike previous dance marathons, this celebratory fundraising event will take place virtually.
Dance Marathon is UGA Miracleâs annual capstone event. Each year, participants and UGA Miracle families join together for performances, dancing and activities to fundraise money for Childrenâs Healthcare of Atlanta.
Even though this year UGA Miraclesâ Dance Marathon will be completely virtual, the event will still include fun activities like color group wars and live music just as expected from previous years.
Walking through the corridor between the Zell B. Miller Learning Center and the Tate Student Center, oversized cut-out letters spell out âHEROsâ against a table surrounded by students. This setup is a part of the University of Georgiaâs HEROsâ hybrid, virtual and in-person spring 2021 recruitment.
UGA HEROs is a student-run organization which works to improve the quality of life for children affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. Through past recruitments, UGA HEROs has been able to organize over 2,000 students on campus to serve 300 kids, according to their website.
Elise Kim, a sophomore journalism major, currently serves as the WOW chair for recruitment and morale for HEROs. Over winter break, she created the theme âBe the Changeâ as the center point of spring recruitment, which began on Jan. 27 and ended on Feb. 3., Kim said.