UDance venue
UDance fundraiser will be held at Bob Carpenter Center in 2014
11:15 a.m., Sept. 24, 2013--UDance — the University of Delaware’s largest student run philanthropy — has announced that its annual 12-hour dance marathon will take place at the Bob Carpenter Sports and Convocation Center (BCC) in March 2014.
“UDance is a year-long fundraiser and awareness campaign for childhood cancer, and the culmination comes at this 12-hour dance marathon every March,” said Michelle Morreale, who serves as social media chair on the executive board for the registered student organization.
Campus Stories
From graduates, faculty
Doctoral hooding
The timing of the announcement appropriately fell during September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The executive board further took advantage of this month when it released its UDance2014 Promotional Video.
Other events scheduled to take place this month include a UDance Gold Out on Saturday, Sept. 28, during which students will wear gold colors to support the color of childhood cancer awareness, and a Cuts for a Cure hair donation event from noon-3 p.m., Monday, Sept. 30, on the Trabant University Center patio.
With seating for more than 5,000 people, the BCC serves as the primary location for convocations, concerts, and banquets at the University, as well as for UD men and women’s basketball and volleyball.
UDance’s move to the facility serves as a testament to how large the philanthropy has grown since its founding by student Jessie Forman in 2007. In the first year, with the event held in the Multipurpose Rooms of the Trabant University Center with only a small gathering of attendees, the dance marathon raised $8,000 for the Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation.
Since that time, the marathon has been held at the Delaware Field House, just about doubling its totals with every succeeding year. Last year’s efforts, with a record-breaking total of over $551,000, brought the cumulative amount raised to $1.4 million dollars for the nonprofit foundation.
"The move to the Bob Carpenter Center marks a significant milestone for UDance,” said Michael Smyth, one of the co-executive coordinators of UDance. “The potential for this year's attendance and grand total was what solidified the decision to make the move. Our goal is to bring the entire university community together at UDance 2014".
The organization was recently awarded a UD Leadership Award for outstanding philanthropy, and has achieved in extending its mission outward to the wider campus community. With on-campus organizations adopting their very own “heroes,” or children suffering from cancer, the marathon gathered supporters across campus.
“We have the Greek Nation involved; we have RSOs, faculty, family and friends participating. We have restaurants and shops on Main Street hosting fundraisers on our FTK (For the Kids) Tuesdays,” said Jill Finfrock, the other co-executive coordinator of UDance. “We have students canning on and off-campus year-round. We have students — called ‘Moralers’ — volunteering to spend the entire 12 hours at the marathon without sitting. A lot of this motivation comes from the inspiration we receive from our heroes.”
The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation
The B+ Foundation was founded by two alumni and Wilmington residents, Joe and Chris McDonough, after their 14-year-old son Andrew was diagnosed and lost his battle with childhood cancer in 2007. The foundation was named after Andrew McDonough’s blood type, B+, and is today promoted as a reflection of how he lived his life. Proceeds raised by the foundation fund childhood cancer research and provide financial assistance to families affected by the disease.
This year’s marathon to support the B+ Foundation is scheduled to take place on March 23, from 9 a.m.-9p.m.
UDance mission statement
In its efforts to support the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, the University of Delaware UDance Marathon strives to instill hope in the lives of those affected by childhood cancer. The organization encourages unity, raises funds and spreads awareness while inspiring all to “Live Like Andrew.”
Article by Angela Carcione
Photo by Evan Krape