by Eric Storms
Dancing just got a lot more meaningful.
To raise funds for charity, more than 300 colleges across the country hold dance marathons for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) of hospitals. On May 19, the WHS Community Service Club will bring the dance marathon phenomenon to the high school level by hosting a five-hour fundraiser for Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside.
Dancing just got a lot more meaningful.
To raise funds for charity, more than 300 colleges across the country hold dance marathons for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) of hospitals. On May 19, the WHS Community Service Club will bring the dance marathon phenomenon to the high school level by hosting a five-hour fundraiser for Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside.
“The goal is to be standing for those who can’t,” said freshman Ava Feldman, the dance coordinator. “It’s going to be a really fun event and it will bring the whole school community together, and it’s to raise money for a great cause.”
The club has a fund-raising goal of $5,000 and will raise money through fund-raising teams and admission to the dance, which will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Teams that sign up online and raise $50 through sponsorships will be admitted to the dance for free and will also get a T-shirt. Those not interested in a team will pay a $10 entrance fee at the door.
“What differentiates Children’s Miracle Network hospitals from a lot of other charities and philanthropies is that 100 percent of the funds raised stay local,” said CMN Hospitals Program Coordinator Ms. Kayla Pagnani. “Everything that is raised from Westfield High School’s dance marathon is going to stay directly in New Jersey and go to the kids at Children’s Specialized Hospital.”
CMN children will also be at the event and there will be plenty of food, games and raffles, as well as a DJ.
“It’s just so much fun; that’s the only way I can describe it,” Pagnani said. “I’ve been to quite a few dance marathons at different schools and one thing that really stands out to me is the unity and the passion that is just created from these events. It really brings everyone together and it really is just a fun and exciting way to raise funds.”
The event is not just for WHS students, but for the entire Westfield community.
Said Feldman: “It’s for all grade levels, K through 12. Parents and teachers are invited also, so I think that’s a cool aspect of the dance that it’s not just one of the schools; it brings all of Westfield together.”
For more information and to sign up go to: westfieldhighschool.kintera.org/dancemarathon.
The club has a fund-raising goal of $5,000 and will raise money through fund-raising teams and admission to the dance, which will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Teams that sign up online and raise $50 through sponsorships will be admitted to the dance for free and will also get a T-shirt. Those not interested in a team will pay a $10 entrance fee at the door.
“What differentiates Children’s Miracle Network hospitals from a lot of other charities and philanthropies is that 100 percent of the funds raised stay local,” said CMN Hospitals Program Coordinator Ms. Kayla Pagnani. “Everything that is raised from Westfield High School’s dance marathon is going to stay directly in New Jersey and go to the kids at Children’s Specialized Hospital.”
CMN children will also be at the event and there will be plenty of food, games and raffles, as well as a DJ.
“It’s just so much fun; that’s the only way I can describe it,” Pagnani said. “I’ve been to quite a few dance marathons at different schools and one thing that really stands out to me is the unity and the passion that is just created from these events. It really brings everyone together and it really is just a fun and exciting way to raise funds.”
The event is not just for WHS students, but for the entire Westfield community.
Said Feldman: “It’s for all grade levels, K through 12. Parents and teachers are invited also, so I think that’s a cool aspect of the dance that it’s not just one of the schools; it brings all of Westfield together.”
For more information and to sign up go to: westfieldhighschool.kintera.org/dancemarathon.