Volume 5, Issue 6

January 2014

The mission of UNC Dance Marathon is to overcome childhood illness by providing major support for the medical, surgical and emotional care of the patients and families served by North Carolina Childrens Hospital.

Special Invitation
Jan. 10 - Battle of the Bands Kick off the semester right by listening to some awesome bands at The Library. Doors open at 9 p.m. and bands will start playing at 10 p.m. The event will last unitl 12:15 a.m. Cover is $3 over 21 or $6 under. Jan. 21-24 - Motivator & Volunteer Recruitment Week Still looking for a way to get involved with UNC-DM? Sign up for a six-hour motivator shift or three-hour volunteer shift to be an important part of the 24hour event. More information is available at uncmarathon.org/ volunteer. Feb. 1 - Smith Center Childrens Challenge Join us in the Smith Center as the Tar Heels take on NC State! We will be collecting donations For the Kids in a competition to raise more money than Duke. March 21-22 - The 2014 UNC Dance Marathon It is officially the year of the Marathon! In just 70 days, more than 1,600 Carolina students will take a stand for the patients and families of N.C. Childens Hopsital.

In This Issue
Press Rewind Wonder what UNC-DM was up to last month? Catch up on Decembers events.

Page 2

UNC-DM Profile Michael Hardison, senior, is a first time participant in the 2014 Marathon; learn more!
Page 2

Photo by Elizabeth Windsor

Grant Spotlight This month, were featuring our Newborn Critical Care Center grant, which provides opportunities for families to connect through weekly luncheons in the hospital.
Page 3

When life gets you down, you know what keep swimming, just keep swimming.
- Dory, Finding Nemo

you gotta do ? Just

Amazon Smile Find out how you can donate to UNC-DM by shopping on Amazon.
Page 3

Motivator/Volunteer Recruitment Week Preview Learn how you can still get involved with the Marathon.
Page 4

Follow Us Visit Online www.uncmarathon.org

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, please contact 2014 Publicity Chair Renee Montpetit, at publicity@uncdm.org.

January Newsletter | 2
Get Caught Up - December Highlights

Photo by Erin Meyer| Cody Johnson, dancer and member of the UNC football team, participated in Dancer Appreciation Day on Dec. 11. UNC-DM members were outside of Davis LIbrary with coffee and snacks for dancers. The day also marked 100 days until the 2014 Marathon.

Photo by Candace Gentry| Members of Cadence, a UNC all-female a cappella group, caroled at N.C. Childrens Hospital during Parents Night Out on Dec. 10. Every Tuesday during the school year, UNC-DM committee members serve and deliver hot meals to patients and families at the hospital. Parents Night Out is one of UNCDMs four ongoing grants and helps support families in a way insurance cannot.

Photo by Andrew Quine| Morale Captain Katie Quine and other dancers caroled for UNC-DM donations during winter break. They raised an astounding $357.66, For the Kids! Caroling is one of the best and fun ways dancers were able to fundraise over the holidays.

ven though Michael Hardison is graduating in May, and has been very involved on campus, there is one thing he has not yet experienced while at UNC: dancing for 24 hours with UNC Dance Marathon. Why did this senior decide to be a dancer for the 2014 Marathon? It was a mix of things: wanting to be part of something thats bigger than oneself, knowing firsthand the impact cancer has on a family, and pressure from friends, he said. In particular, his friends Renee Montpetit, Publicity Chair, and Alyssa Zinga, an Outreach Committee member, encouraged him to sign up. Although Hardison has not experienced the event himself, he is looking forward to the latter half of it. Ive heard it gets crazy later on and I think itll be interesting to see how my friends and I react to it all, he said. Hardison has held a variety of positions on campus: former

UNC-DM

Profile : Michael Hardison

For the Kids Story

family with a patient at N.C. Childrens Hospital was recently assisted with a rather untimely repair bill for their vehicle. The patient is a wonderful 6-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a Sheath Cell Tumor. Fortunately these tumors are treatable, but the location of this tumor has made for some very unfortunate changes in the patients life. The tumor was diagnosed in his arm. This once very energetic and active child was quickly stripped of most of his physical abilities. This is a single parent family who is also raising another child as well. The fact that the UNC Dance Marathon and the Department of Clinical Care Management can offer some assistance to this family and others in a time of need is such a great benefit to someone dealing with one hardship after another.

By Elisabeth McFarland

Photo by Ashley Templeton | Michael Hardison, senior at UNC, will be dancing for the first time in March.

President of Sigma Phi Society, N.C. Fellows, Co-Chair of Carolina Athletic Projects Committee, and former campaign manager for current Student Body President Christy Lambden. He is majoring in political science and public relations.

January Newsletter | 3
Motivator and Volunteer Recruitment Week
f you missed the chance to sign up to be a dancer but still want to get involved in UNC Dance Marathon, there is still time to do so! Motivator and Volunteer Recruitment Week is coming up Jan. 21-24, and it is a great way to experience the marathon without committing to the entire 24 hours. Volunteers and motivators are both so important for the success of the marathon, said Executive Director Liz Goslin. Motivators work for six-hour shifts, motivating dancers and committee members throughout the marathon by wearing costumes, dancing and keeping the

By Marleigh Cannon

energy up. Im really looking forward to the motivators at the marathon because they are such a crucial part for every dancer because without them, there would be no energy for us to feed of off, said Morale Captain Tommy Yandle. Volunteers work three-hour shifts and assist the Operations Committee. Come to the Pit anytime Jan. 2124 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dont worry if you miss us; you can always sign up online. Be sure to sign up though by Photo by Madeleine Loeb | Sign up to Friday, Jan. 24.

Sign up at uncmarathon.org/volunteer.

be a motivator or volunteer during the marathon, and you will be able to see some of the intricate workings of our states largest student-run nonprofit.

Did you know?

Amazon Smile
What?
Amazon Smile allows users to donate to a charitable organization of your choice just by shopping. By selecting UNC Dance Marathon, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to our organization. 1. Go to smile.amazon.com 2. Sign in to your account or create one. 3. Select UNC Dance Marathon as the charity of your choice. 4. Shop, FTK! Because Amazon Smile is a diferent URL than the regular Amazon one, it is a good idea to update your bookmarks to the Amazon Smile link. That way, you wont forget which page to use!

1.

UNC-DM is celebrating its 16th annual marathon this year.

2. 3.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full-length animated feature film produced in the U.S.

This is the first year that the marathon will be held in March. In the past it has been in February of each year.

How?

4. 5. 7.

Mickey Mouse was the first animated character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tip

More than 2,020 people signed up to be dancers for the marathon this year.

6.

The kid co-captain program was established in 2010.

So far, this years marathon will have 31 kid co-captains.

&

January Newsletter | 4
Why Do You Stand? - Morale Captains
The Why do you stand? campaign was used in November during Dancer Recruitment Week. It allows those involved in UNC-DM to reflect on the cause of the Marathon. From now until March, we will highlight peoples response to this question. This month, we are featuring some morale captains.

Photo Courtesy of Tommy Yandle

Photo Courtesy of Ariana Meinz

Photo by Erin Meyer

I stand because I am dedicating this to the kids and families that spend so much of their time standing and constantly going through struggles. I stand to create a community of love and support for them. -Tommy Yandle

I stand because making a difference is the key to happiness. Standing for 24 hours is a chance to make a positive impact on someones life.

I stand because this is the only organization that I have been involved in where I truly see the difference that I am making.UNCDM has changed so many lives and it -Ariana Meinz has been an honor to be a part of an organization that does so much for the surrounding community. -Cody Allen

Your Wish Is Granted - Newborn Critical Care Center

By Hannah Wallace

managers. These luncheons provide parents of sick children an opportunity to have a good nutritious meal without straying too far from their childs bedside. In addition, it also allows them to talk to other parents going through similar situations. During this time, parents are

he Newborn Critical Care Center grant helps fund weekly parent support luncheons hosted by social workers and case

often isolated from their families and support groups. Support received from other parents can inspire hope, decrease fear and reduce loneliness. Forming bonds with others that have experienced the same emotions allows the parents a greater feeling of overall comfort. This grant is essential because the financial burden placed upon families faced with an extended stay in N.C. Childrens Hospital is eased without the worry of purchasing food for a meal. The luncheons provide an environment for parents to voice their fears and find support from other families, social

workers and case mangers. Parents say the support they receive in the parent-to-parent environment helps them in a way outside support cannot. Through UNC Dance Marathons support of these luncheons, parents emotional and financial burden is greatly lightened.

In the next chapter...

Highlights from January Feature on Dance Marathons around the state