Washington University’s annual Dance Marathon fundraiser underwent comprehensive publicity and programming changes to increase its presence on campus in anticipation of the 12-hour event, which took place Nov. 4.

Despite venue constraints, Dance Marathon at Washington University in St. Louis celebrated its 16th straight year on campus this Saturday, raising a now-typical amount of more than $150,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network of Greater St. Louis.

Due to the current Athletic Complex renovations, Dance Marathon and Wednesday’s Fall Career Fair are moving to the Danforth University Center and Mallinckrodt Center, respectively.

With their enthusiasm for the annual event as high as ever, Washington University students participating in this year’s Dance Marathon raised $151,963.11 by 2 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 10 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This year marks the 15th iteration of Dance Marathon at Wash. U. and also the highest-raising marathon in Wash.

Amidst dazzling lights and loud music, more than a thousand people came together Saturday afternoon to dance into the night. The thirteenth annual St. Louis Area Dance Marathon (DM) was held in the Athletic Complex’s recreational gym on Saturday, Nov. 3rd from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Every hour, amusing costumes, flanel shirts and cowboy boots, sombreros and mickey mouse ears, were donned by students and community members as they boogied with their teams and interacted with “Miracle Children,” the beneficiaries of medical care from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

How should a nonprofit decide from whom to accept money? The answer is not always obvious. Dance Marathon, a yearly charity event at Wash. U. that benefits Children’s Miracle Network, is currently participating in Monsanto’s “Grow St. Louis Contest.

The Ben & Jerry’s franchise on the Delmar Loop failed to write Dance Marathon a check for a benefit night in which student leaders say they planned and participated.

Eight hundred and twenty-nine students danced away the twelve hours between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. last Saturday to Sunday.
They were raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network through Dance Marathon, an event that Washington University has hosted twelve times since 2000.

Dance Marathon, one of the largest charity fundraisers on campus, raised more than $134,000 for Children’s Miracle Network.