Getting involved with one of UCLA’s many charitable organizations is simple: Take the time to slow down and grab a flier.
One of the most visible groups on campus, thanks to their attention-grabbing highlighter-colored shirts, is Dance Marathon.
New students will soon become familiar with these promoters on Bruin Walk, as committee members stake out their spots in hopes that passersby will sign up to dance all day, night and day to raise funds for pediatric AIDS research in the 26-hour dance-a-thon.
Since its inception in 2002, Dance Marathon has grown as an organization, beginning with a sparse 20 committee members and now moving into its seventh year, with well over 100 volunteers and nearly $1 million raised for its beneficiaries.
Dance Marathon has aided the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and, last year, added two nonprofit camps for children affected by or infected with HIV or AIDS, Camp Heartland and Camp Kindle. In 2007 alone, dancers raised over $330,000.
Students begin signing up as early as November to raise money and continue doing so until the big weekend in February when thousands will hit the dance floor in Ackerman Grand Ballroom.
The number of students who register to dance, morale (cheer on their friends in three-hour shifts) or volunteer has skyrocketed in past years, transforming Dance Marathon into something more than a weekend charity event ““ it’s become a rite of passage for thousands of UCLA students.
“There is no one type of Dance Marathon person,” said this year’s Assistant Director Jonathan Bobrow.
Dance Marathon has become such a popular event for students to get involved in because of its overarching appeal and accessibility to students.
UCLA is known for its philanthropic heart, and Dance Marathon acts as one of its biggest components. Students donate their time, money and energy to join together each President’s Day weekend to give back to the community.
UCLA’s connection to the HIV/AIDS cause is a well-documented one. In 1981, the world’s first case of AIDS was discovered in the UCLA Medical Center.
The city of Los Angeles, too, has become a center for research and charity with the creation of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in 1988. Whether or not participants are aware, they, too, are leaving their mark on the historic fight against HIV/AIDS.
It’s up to the dancers to raise the minimum donation, but most go well beyond that amount. Some dancers even manage to raise thousands of dollars, claiming the top spots as fundraisers .
One message that is relayed throughout the year is that just a little bit of money can be enough to save a life. For every $8 that is raised, a child’s risk of contracting HIV/AIDS can be lowered through a single dose of medicine called nevirapine.
Over the past six years, Dance Marathon has raised over $984,000, which provides over 123,000 shots of nevirapine for children worldwide.
Dance Marathon is more than just a fun weekend event with friends; it is a chance for an individual to take a stand and make an impact both in the community and around the globe.
Fourth-year sociology student Gina Albert has been dancing since her first year at UCLA after being encouraged by older floormates to register.
“With every passing year, the number of people involved grows. It’s great to know that we’re all dancing for the same cause,” she said.
Spending time with the kids who attend Dance Marathon from the Glaser Foundation, Camp Heartland and Camp Kindle were her favorite moments of the weekend ““ specifically dancing with them to Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” in the early hours of the morning.
Dance Marathon has definitely hit the ground running. With its seventh year looming on the horizon, committee members hope to encourage more dancers than ever to sign up and leave their mark on UCLA and Dance Marathon history.
Wirth is the 2007-2008 Dance Marathon public relations director and a third-year political science and communication studies student.