Dance Marathon
Beta Mu Chapter, Pennsylvania State University
Dance Marathon is one of Children’s Miracle Network’s most popular fundraisers, and Beta Mu’s extra efforts to promote the event have made the chapter the all-time highest Phi Mu fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network. Beta Mu has raised more than $600,000 since Phi Mu’s partnership with the organization began.
Last year alone, it raised an impressive $56,863.83, said Lauren Robertson, a sophomore who serves as Philanthropy Chairman. “It’s so big; it’s so effective; it’s so great,” she said. Part of the success is the university-wide support of the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon – touted as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world – where no sleeping and no sitting is allowed for 46 hours. Last year, 700 dancers participated. The Beta Mu chapter spends considerable time leading up to Dance Marathon generating support from friends, family and alumnae. Four weekends a year, sisters decorate coffee cans and other containers to collect donations from the community for the event, known as THON. “We start out in front of businesses and then branch out to other locations – anywhere we think we can spread the news. That’s how we make a bulk of our money,” Lauren said. Chapter members also send out at least 20 letters each to friends, family and others telling them about Dance Marathon, how much has been raised in the past and how the funds benefit Children’s Miracle Network. After the letters drop, donations in the form of cash and checks start to pour in. That demonstrates one of Lauren’s biggest tips for success – educate potential donors about the chapter’s volunteer efforts and how their donation benefits children in need. “Once you tell them about it, donors really get passionate about the cause and want to help you out,” she said. “It’s important to say, ‘This is why we’re raising money for Children’s Miracle Network and this is what our money does.’ They want a reason. Just giving them that information makes a big difference.”
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