OU Dance Marathon raises over $300,000 for children’s health | News

OU Dance Marathon, the university’s largest student-run philanthropy event, was held on Saturday in Sarkeys Fitness Center. 

The annual event benefits the Children’s Health Foundation through the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which funds research for children’s health. According to OU Dance Marathon’s Instagram, Saturday’s event raised $305,407.25 for the foundation. 

OU Dance Marathon was founded in 1996 and was run by the OU Interfraternity Council and OU Panhellenic Association beginning in 2000. In 2004, Campus Activities Council adopted it as its official philanthropy. 

Savannah Jones, a public relations junior and OU Dance Marathon vice chair of community relations, said greek life involvement in OU Dance Marathon is still strong. 

“I originally heard about OU Dance Marathon through greek life, which has a lot of involvement,” Jones said. “I started off as just a regular (executive) member on the family relations team, then I applied to be a director sophomore year, vice chair last year, and I got it.”

Jones said the community relations committee is about more than maintaining positive relations with the OU community.

“I was in charge of all alumni relations, and this year, we started a high school engagement committee,” Jones said. “We coordinated with high schools regarding their own philanthropy weeks, like ‘Swine Week’ or ‘SPUD Week.’ We applied to be the recipients of the money they raised that week, so it really was just laying a lot of groundwork.”

Several Oklahoma high schools have weeks dedicated to student-run philanthropy, such as Edmond Memorial’s Swine Week and Norman North’s SPUD Week. Jones said these events appeal to high school students wanting to remain involved and mirror OU Dance Marathon’s Day of Hope event.

“I joined OU (Dance Marathon) because I had been super involved in high school, and I was looking for other ways to get involved,” Jones said. 

Jones said the unique part of the funds raised is that several schools’ dance marathons directly benefit Oklahoma children in need.

“A bunch of different schools around Oklahoma have different dance marathons: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma Central, … all of their money stays in Oklahoma but goes to the Children’s Miracle Network,” Jones said. “A lot of different children’s hospitals across the country are under this network, but (OU Dance Marathon’s) money goes towards Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.”

Jones said that serving as vice chair gave her a new perspective of what OU Dance Marathon is and its work. 

“When you meet these kids face-to-face, you realize how just how life-changing a singular dollar that you donate can be,” Jones said. “It humbles you a little bit. It makes you realize: who am I to complain about my life or little things that go wrong when kids are spending months and months at these hospitals and are so happy and grateful for every day.”

Maya Williams, an early childhood education senior, serves as executive chair for OU Dance Marathon. When she was executive vice chair, Williams said she never imagined herself in her current position.

“In high school, I would never consider myself a leader. I was always eager to support the leader and be the second in command, but I was much too intimidated to have everyone turning to me for the answers,” Williams said. “It was because of the support of the leaders before me that I took a chance.”

Reflecting on her time in OU Dance Marathon, Williams said there is one word that describes her experience: thankful.

“I am filled with pride and thankfulness for the team I got to do it all with. They loved me so well and truly poured their heart into this program,” Williams said. “We set a goal this year, and because of their hard work, we surpassed it.”

Williams said OU Dance Marathon changed her and Norman for the better.

“I am leaving OUDM with a proud and thankful heart. I consider myself so lucky to have gotten to experience this year with this team that pushed me to be the best version of myself and never stopped dreaming for tomorrow,” Williams said. “I want the Norman community to know that there is still a change to be made.” 

This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Allie Clift and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.

Andrew covers business news across the OU campus and in the Norman community. Originally from Tulsa, OK, Andrew strives to deliver meaningful and enduring news for all to read and enjoy. He can be contacted at [email protected]