DM Co-Chairs Phil Reich and Liz Banks thank the crowd before the final money announcement
By Brian Rosenthal and Matt Spector
With more dancers than ever, two new emcees and a new venue, Dance Marathon 2009 rocked its way to a fundraising total of $917,834, about $16,000 less than last year’s record-breaking total.
Dance Marathon’s primary beneficiary, Project Kindle, a foundation that holds camps for youth effected by HIV/AIDS, received $576,470. DM gave their secondary beneficiary, the Evanston Community Foundation, $62,052.29.
Brett Avila, Project Kindle’s midwest regional…
DM Co-Chairs Phil Reich and Liz Banks thank the crowd before the final money announcement
Dancing
Balloons were released after the final total was announced
The Evanston Community Foundation receives their check for $64,052
DM Co-Chair Phil Reich and Project Kindle representatives Brett Avila and Eva Payne get emotional after the check presentation
Photos by Brian Rosenthal/The Daily Northwestern
Emcee Ben Singer dancing on stage/ Brian Rosenthal
As the staff hurries to clean the ground floor of Norris and the last remaining dancers trickle out with their friends, one man is alone, limping towards the doors.
Communication junior Ben Singer, minutes after finishing his stint as DM emcee, has a raspy voice but a smile on his face.
“We really are changing the world a little bit at a time,” Singer said. “I’m really glad I was able to help.”
To the first-time emcee, the…
Danny Lee (left) and another camper dancing on stage/ Brian Rosenthal
Several Camp Kindle campers attended Dance Marathon. We caught up with one of them, 16-year-old Danny Lee, immediately after the marathon:
Daily: What’d you think of the last 30 hours?
Lee: I loved it. I liked the way everybody supported us.
Daily: What was your reaction when you saw how much money was raised?
Lee: It was crazy how much money we raised. I was surprised. I thought it’d be like…
(About one hour after DM)
Cami Jones has been awake for 37.5 hours, 30 of which were spent dancing… and feels amaaaazing!!!
Sasha Letuchy is so glad dm is over! Amazing exhausting experience!
Jason Catanese $917,834.00 for Project Kindle!!! I am in love with DM and NU!
-Brian Rosenthal
Dancers leaving DM/ Brian Rosenthal
Dancers leaving DM/ Brian Rosenthal
Norris staff eating breakfast at 4 a.m., in midst of massive cleanup/ Brian Rosenthal
DM Finance Chairs Peter Koelsch and Jessica Morlock announce the top fundraisers.
DM Co-chairs Phil Reich and Liz Banks thank the dancers for participating in the dance marathon.
DM raised $917,834 this year, $16,000 shy of their record from last year.
Balloons are dropped in celebration of the fundraising total.
Eva Payne, Project Kindle executive director, thanks the crowd of dancers for their support.
From left: Brett Avila, Eva Payne and Phil Reich
Photos by Paul Takahashi/ The Daily Northwestern
Committee member - Lauren Berry, A&U at $2,500
Independent couple - $8,698.38
Small group - Jones Residential College at $5,238.56
Medium group - Kappa Alpha Theta & Sigma Phi Epsilon at $1,9268.49
Big group - Can’t you guess? Starts with a Z, ends with a T. More than $101,000.
-Corinne Lestch
br: dm is over!