T-shirt check in is finally here!

And now the week you all have been waiting for…DANCE Week!! Get excited for some great opportunities to earn spirit points for your organization:

On Monday, the Dance Marathon Morale Team will perform the 2009 line dance in Turlington, while students will have the opportunity to make cards for the patients at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF.

On Tuesday, students can sign the “Why We Dance” banner, which will be hung at Dance Marathon on April 10 and 11 to help remind dancers of the many important reasons why they are participating in the event.

Wednesday kicks off of T-shirt check-ins for the rest of the semester until Dance Marathon. Students receive spirit points by coming to the table wearing a Dance Marathon 2010 T-shirt. (This week only you can get away with a DM T-shirt from a previous year.) Students can also buy Children’s Miracle Network balloon and football decals for a $1 donation. The Gelato Company will also be serving gelato to students who check-in.

On Thursday, Dance Marathon will host penny wars between organizations. Students can donate pennies to their organization, which will count toward their own total, or silver change to other organizations, which will count against that organization’s total.

At 5 p.m. Thursday, dancer registration CLOSES, so if you’ve been looking forward to being a part of that 26.2-hour celebration come April, make sure you register by this time because it’s your last chance.

On Friday, Dance Marathon will move from Turlington and set up camp in a Reitz Union meeting room so delegates can come by to turn in their dancer registration forms. Extra spirit points go to the organizations that get their forms turned in earlier in the day.

Plus, don’t forget about our annual bowling tournament, Making Strikes for Miracles, which is this Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Alley Gatorz on Waldo Road. It’s not too late to register your four-person team for only $15 per person. Don’t feel like bowling? There’s still plenty to do, like poker, karaoke and board games, and you won’t want to miss the costume contest between the bowlers.

Help Dance Marathon Win $50,000

Dance Marathon at the University of Florida has been given the opportunity to win a significant amount of money for Children’s Miracle Network at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF. Through the Chase Community Giving contest, the Student Movement for Real Change/Think Impact has promised to donate 5% of the prize to Dance Marathon. They win $1,000,000 for first place and $100,000 for second through sixth place. Voting is easy, but we need your help.

1. Go to www.thinkimpact.org
2. Click “Vote for Think Impact!”
3. Allow Facebook access to the Chase Community Giving fan page
4. Vote for Student Movement for Real Change
5. Repeat every day now through Friday

Vote now and help make miracles happen!

2010 STAFF APPLICATIONS

Staff members represent the lifeblood of Dance Marathon.  It is only through their hard work that DM at UF has been able to raise over 3.2 million dollars for Children’s Miracle Network at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida. If you are interested in making a difference and becoming a 2010 staff member please download the attached application or click on the STAFF APPLICATION tab under our Recent News Section.  For all the right reasons.

Swing for the fences…and for miracles

Famous second baseman Rogers Hornsby once said “I don’t want to play golf.  When I hit the ball, I want someone else to chase it”.  In honor of the great Rogers Hornsby’s philosophy Dance Marathon @ UF is proud to announce our first ever softball tournament.  This tournament is open to all members of the community and will benefit Children’s Miracle Network at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida.  The tournament will take place Saturday, February 6th at Diamond Sports Park in Gainesville.  This will without question be the highlight of your softball year as nothing is better than playing our great nations pass time in support of an even greater cause.  While this tournament is a prime opportunity for your team to flex their softball muscles, it is also a great opportunity to socialize with other businesses and civic organizations throughout the area.  This will also be a great opportunity to hear first hand how the money raised at this tournament and throughout the year by DM @ UF is vital to the survival and well-being of hundreds of children being treated at Shands.  If you are interested in signing up a team please click on the link below.  I look forward to seeing everyone on the 6th as the Gainesville community literally steps up to the plate to aid those in need.  GO GATORS!

To sign up a team:   https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=41226&LangPref=en-CA

Kenny Brighton
Overall Chair