麻豆原创鈥檚 largest student-run philanthropy raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for the children of Children鈥檚 Miracle Network hospitals, which support children鈥檚 hospitals and medical research and community awareness of children鈥檚 health issues.
Nearly 800 students participated in this year鈥檚 dance marathon, which asks participants to stand for 18 hours to 鈥渄ance for the kids who can鈥檛鈥� and to raise funds for the Children鈥檚 Miracle Network. Hundreds of students from more than 60 organizations raise funds for the event year-round, and the effort culminated Saturday with the dance marathon, which was held at the Venue and raised $258,554.17.
鈥淲e have worked so diligently to make Knight-Thon have a real presence on campus, and I think that this year, we finally made it,鈥� said Valerie Greco, Knight-Thon鈥檚 fundraising chair. 聽鈥淥ur goal of $170,000 seemed like a stretch and at times, there were set-backs and people said that we couldn鈥檛 do it.鈥�
Knight-Thon raised $118,000 for Children鈥檚 Miracle Network last year. This year, the philanthropy beat its goal thanks in part to a few large donations, including a $25,000 gift from former Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick, who selected Knight-Thon as a winner of a social media contest to find a local charity to donate to.
鈥淥n Sunday morning, I think many of the members of the executive board expected that we would exceed our goal, but no one was prepared for the reveal of over a quarter of a million dollars,鈥� Greco said. 鈥溌槎乖� raised $258,554.17, and I cannot think of a better cause than the Greater Orlando Children鈥檚 Miracle Network! I am truly blessed to have been part of such an incredible event.鈥�
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