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• IU Dance Marathon raises record $3.2 million for Riley Hospital for Children

IU Dance Marathon raises record $3.2 million for Riley Hospital for Children

• Nov. 18, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Dance Marathon raised a record of more than $3.2 million over the weekend for Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. This year marks the first time the annual event has surpassed $3 million in donations.

"I love the heart and spirit of the IU Dance Marathon," IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel said. "Students here started a movement of care for the sickest children, and it has become one of Bloomington’s proudest traditions. It exemplifies the culture of care that permeates our campus.

"The students who organized and participated in this year's IUDM danced their hearts out -- and I learned a few moves. They exceeded the lofty expectations set by last year's event, and they once again displayed a passion for serving the community that is truly inspirational. My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved."

The 2014 IU Dance Marathon took place from 8 p.m. Nov. 14 to 8 a.m. Nov. 16 at the IU Tennis Center on the Bloomington campus. For 36 hours, more than 2,500 dancers remained awake and on their feet in a show of support "For The Kids" -- the children at Riley Hospital.

The event raised exactly $3,206,340.22. The number of cents in the final tally represents the 22 members of the IU Dance Marathon executive council.

"We are very happy with what we were able to accomplish this year," said Conner Sunday, director of public relations for the event. "IUDM takes great pride in our family-like atmosphere in everything we do. We had an amazing group of people who have been working year-round for this, and to see that number go up at the end was the cherry on top.

"After the total was raised, it really hit me when Zoe Allen, one of our Riley kids, ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug.

"It's very cool to see firsthand the lives that we are able to change, not only monetary-wise but through the love and friendships we build with one another," said Sunday, a junior from Valparaiso who is majoring in marketing and telecommunications.

Last year the marathon raised more than $2.6 million. Each year's total includes the funds raised by similar dance marathons throughout the year at partner high schools in the area.

IU Dance Marathon was started in 1991 to honor Ryan White, a patient at Riley Hospital for Children who became an AIDS activist and died in 1990 from complications of the disease. The second-largest student-run philanthropic organization in the nation, IU Dance Marathon has raised more than $19 million since its inception.

About Riley Children's Foundation
Riley Children's Foundation supports Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Camp Riley and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. Riley at IU Health has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families since 1924. The hospital's partnership with Indiana University Health and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine make Riley Hospital the leader in pediatric care in the state and the region.