Why is Pepsi Refresh So Important?

Everyone is spreading awareness about the Pepsi Refresh grant that Dance Marathon is trying to win in order to redo the Pediatric Waiting Area at Shands Children’s Hospital, but has anyone stopped to think about what this really means?

As a child, hearing that a loved one is sick or undergoing surgery is a worry that no child should have to be burdened with. In that time of stress and concern, it would be a wonderful thing for the kids to be given the opportunity to be distracted with not only fun toys, but also educational materials. It can make a horrible experience for a child into one that allows a little bit of a diversion to hopefully brighten a child’s day!

Please continue to vote for Pepsi Refresh through November 23!

http://www.bsd.ufl.edu/G1C/refresh/Vote.aspx

Shands at UF

To learn more about what Shands at UF make sure to check out this website!

http://www.shandskids.org/

It has great information about the hospital, how to make a difference, and personal stories!

you can also go to the DM at UF website to take a virtual tour of the hospital here:

http://www.floridadm.org/about-dance-marathon/virtual-tours.asp

FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS!!!

and remember, only 160 days until dance marathon!!!!

 

Dance Marathon’s Plan for Pepsi Refresh

Waiting to have surgery or waiting for a loved one to get out of surgery is an anxious time, especially for a child. The current surgical pediatric waiting area at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida is in strong need of kid-friendly, comforting characteristics. Dance Marathon at UF wants to make this a reality. Refreshing the surgical pediatric waiting area is a distinct opportunity for Dance Marathon to leave a legacy at Shands Children’s Hospital. Our children’s hospital is part of the UF campus, serving our community and beyond. A grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project would provide Dance Marathon the means to update the waiting area and leave a positive, lasting impression on our kids and our community today, tomorrow and for years to come.

The children’s waiting area sits adjacent to the adult waiting area and is in desperate need of activities and tools to engage kids and provide diversions. There is one table and one television to play VHS tapes. Dance Marathon would like to refresh this area with technology. With a grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project, we could provide educational, interactive technology and a flat-screen television with a large selection of family-friendly DVDs. This new interactive, immersive environment would allow children to completely engage in familiar activities and distract them from the challenge they are about to face. The grant would also enable us to provide the environment and supplies needed for Arts in Medicine volunteers to host fun activities and crafts for children waiting for surgery. A new pediatric waiting area would refresh the entire family experience, alleviating the anxiety of both children and their parents as they await surgery.

Dance Marathon at UF engages more than 1,300 students, 40 campus organizations, and community members and local businesses each year from all over Gainesville and north Florida, giving them a cause to come together and rally behind. More than 8,700 students have danced at Dance Marathon since it began in 1995. These students have stayed awake and on their feet for 26.2 hours or more to symbolize the physical and emotional struggles the patients at Shands experience daily. They stand for those who can’t.

UF physicians at Shands Children’s Hospital treat kids from all over Florida, across the United States and several foreign countries with more than 8,400 admissions last year. For fiscal year 2010, pediatrics accounted for nearly a quarter of the surgery volume for Shands at UF. Should Dance Marathon have the opportunity to refresh the pediatric surgical waiting area, Shands HealthCare would match the funds, providing new furniture and a renovated welcome desk. This matching fund is made possible because of Dance Marathon’s 17-year partnership in fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network at Shands Children’s Hospital. We look forward to partnering with Pepsi to do more than just replace furniture – together we’ll transform the waiting experience for kids.

Join the facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155181537851632 and vote your fingers off!

Vote for DANCE MARATHON for the UF Pepsi Refresh Grant!

The Pepsi Refresh Grant is a nationwide initiative looking for people, businesses and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. They are awarding grants of all sizes. Pepsi is giving away $20,000 to fund ideas here at UF. The top $15K and $5K idea will receive funding.

Dance Marathon at UF is in the top 5 for the Pepsi Refresh Grant. Help us win $15,000 towards Shands Children’s Hospital and our overall total. You can vote AS MANY TIMES AS YOU’D LIKE until Nov. 23. Just go to http://www.bsd.ufl.edu/G1C/refresh/Vote.aspx and vote for “Refresh the DANCE MARATHON Pediatric Waiting Area at Shands.”
Organizations, this is also a chance for you to have a percentage of the $15,000 go toward YOUR actual total. Organizations who vote the most will win. See your delegate for more information.

IT TAKES 2 SECONDS. DO IT!

For the kids.

What is Children’s Miracle Network?

Many of us know that Children’s Miracle Network helps hospitalized kids, but do you know the extent to which CMN does? Words cannot even begin to describe everything that Children’s Miracle Network does. Here is a short video allowing you to see why Dance Marathon participants love CMN so much. Don’t forget it’s never to early to start fundraising!

For the Kids!

Never Too Early!

Sure, Dance Marathon may be a 26.2 hour event that is held in the O-Dome in April. But don’t forget that’s not all Dance Marathon is! The money raised last year, totaling over half a million dollars, was not all accumulated during those hours. Fundraising lasts an entire year! So go online to www.floridadm.org and sign up for online fundraising today! It’s easier than sending out letters, takes no time at all, and can give back to a great cause that Children’s Miracle Network will greatly appreciate come April. What are you waiting for!? Go register!

DM Soccer Game!

Last year, Dance Marathon brought all the organizations together to go see a baseball game. This year, we are pleased to announce that there will be a soccer game for all DM organizations to attend! This is a great opportunity for everyone see a little of what Dance Marathon will be like and how many people are involved. Also, the first 250 people at the game will be rewarded with FRAT TANKS! So make sure you come out to the event! Spirit Points will also be rewarded!

The game is Sunday, October 7 at 2 p.m. against Georgia! The game is at James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track.  Come support the UF Soccer team as well as Dance Marathon!

What is this “linedance” I keep hearing about?

There’s a lot of buzz about Dance Marathon already this year, and a lot of what I keep hearing people say is “I can’t do Dance Marathon… There’s no way I can dance for 26.2 hours!” Well of course we don’t spend the entire time dancing, but that’s not to say that there’s no chance to dance during that time spent in the O-Dome. Ever hour on the hour, the Morale Team teaches all the dancers a segment of the linedance. In 2010, the dance was five and a half minutes long and by the end of Dance Marathon, every person knew how to break it down! Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something so much fun that goes to such a great cause? This year, this could be you!

Motivation for Fundraising

Its never too early to start fundraising! The earlier you start fundraising the better.

Here is an inspirational video about the impact that Dance Marathon can not only make in your life but in the lives of the Miracle Children. If you are sending out e-mails for fundraising attach this video to show others why you choose to participate in Dance Marathon and the impact it makes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H5Ikx_DHDY

Remember its FOR THE KIDS!

Get involved in Dance Marathon 2011!

Interested in Dance Marathon, but don’t know where to start? Check this out.

There are a few different levels of involvement available. No matter how involved you get, every contribution helps!

Captains- Captains make a yearlong commitment to Dance Marathon and alothough they don’t have to stand for 26.2 hours, they are required to be present for the entire Dance Marathon. There are up to 12 different teams you can apply to be a captain for ranging from hospitality to family relations.

Staff- A variety of teams also offer staff positions. These staff positions are less of a time commitment and require presence at only certain hours at the event; however Dance Marathon would not run smoothly without them.

Organizations- Organizational involvement is extremely important, whether you are a dancer, your organization’s delegate, or simply want to help fundraise. During the closing ceremonies of Dance Marathon, the organization that raised the most money for Children’s Miracle Network is awarded the Miracle Cup.

Dancers- Without dancers, Dance Marathon would not be possible. Each dancer pledges to stand for 26.2 hours during the event in April and raise money for Children’s Miracle Network thoughout the year, benefitting Shands Children’s Hospital at UF.

Check out our Web site or Facebook page for more information. Or you can contact our Overall Recruitment Chair Sally Galanti at galantis@floridadm.org!

Miracle Families

A lot of times when people sign up to participate in Dance Marathon, they know that they are signing up to stand for 26.2 hours, but don’t fully realize the impact that this event is having on people’s lives. However, throughout the event, miracle families stand up and speak to dancers about how Dance Marathon has personally affected them and the different ways that Children’s Miracle Network has changed their lives. Through sharing their stories, dancers feel as though they have really touched someone else’s life and realize that this cause is much bigger than just the University of Florida. Although DM might be a fun event that the student body gets very hyped up for, it is important to remember that this is all FOR THE KIDS! The money raised goes toward making sure the children are entertained during their time in the hospital, providing the children’s wing with up-to-date equipment, and ensuring that miracles really do happen in the lives of kids struggling with their different battles. So, don’t forget the motivation for dancing! Dance Marathon is for the kids, and for all the right reasons!!