Philanthropic efforts at the University broke a record this semester.
The inaugural Dance Marathon raised more than $105,000 for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, surpassing DePaul University’s first-year record of more than $103,000. The more than 160 participants had to raise at least $250 and danced for 26.2 hours for the kids at Our Lady of the Lake in February.
Adviser of the Year winner and veteran Dance Marathon adviser Bill Mattera brought the fundraising event to the University after overseeing it at other colleges. As a result of the Dance Marathon’s accomplishments, the organization was recently named the Most Outstanding New Student Organization at LSU.
Not only did participants dance for more than a day, they also heard stories from patients at the hospital.
Dance Marathon announced it would be holding the event again by performing a flash mob of the Morale Dance in the Quad last week. Next year’s Dance Marathon will be held from Feb. 27 to 28.