As part of its Dance Marathon to benefit Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) students raised $8,232.55 this year, up from $3,572.54 collected in 2011. The funds will be evenly divided between Riley’s Child Life Program and Camp Riley.
In 1991, Indiana University student Jill Waibel organized the first-ever Riley Dance Marathon to raise money in honor of her friend, AIDS activist, and Riley patient Ryan White. The event caught on among high school and college students across the state who are passionate about raising money for the renowned Indianapolis pediatric facility.
IUPUC got on board with the year-round philanthropic commitment two years ago. This year’s student-led committee included:
- Evin Ehrreich (Seymour) | president and corporate relations chair
- Emily Foust (Columbus) | catering chair
- Tracey Owens (North Vernon) | operations chair
Ehrreich and husband Jamie are parents of four-year-old Emily. The couple has personal experience with Riley services. “After the birth of our daughter, we had several visits to the hospital. The programs at Riley really helped our family get started on the right footing,” said the full-time student, wife, and mother who has also served as president of IUPUC’s National Student Nurses Association chapter and is a past recipient of Indiana University’s 2011 Charles & JoAnn Linsmith Scholarship.
Students planned and managed fun, creative campus activities to raise funds for the kids at Riley, including a dunk tank, designated nights at local restaurants in which a percentage of sales were donated to the cause, a campus garage sale, and a “penny war” in which points were awarded or taken away based on the type of money collected (pennies, silver coins, or paper currency). The winning campus office received a student-made trophy.
Their efforts culminated in a six-hour dance marathon held November 9 at Factory 12 Event Loft. Thanks to support from IUPUC board members Rick Johnson and David Elwood, the students used the loft’s spacious dance floor to enjoy live music by Terry Lee and the Rockaboogie band and a DJ. They also enjoyed food, games, and other activities, including learning more about the inspirational story of a local “Riley kid,” Adriana Webber.
Columbus parents Sandra and Brian Webber, along with daughter Adriana, joined IUPUC students to share their experience with Riley Hospital for Children. Adriana attended Camp Riley last summer, where she joined other children who are also being treated by hospital specialists.
Ehrreich said programs like Camp Riley provide kids with a sense of normalcy in their lives, which is critical in maintaining the positive mental attitude needed to overcome their challenges.
“Child life specialists visit with Riley kids to entertain, engage, and distract them—whether that is playing video games, working on arts and crafts, or just playing dress-up. And through Camp Riley, the children get a chance to canoe, camp outside under the stars, swim, participate in art and music therapies, and more. These and other Riley programs give kids a chance to just be kids—despite their illnesses, disabilities, and other health challenges.”
For Vice Chancellor & Dean Marwan Wafa, student participation in activities like Dance Marathon reflects a growing campus life program which is fun, creative, and engages students, faculty, and staff with the community.
“From intramural athletics to trips to amusement parks, museums, and other destinations, IUPUC’s traditional and nontraditional students are becoming more involved in campus life, community service, and supporting noble causes, all of which an important part of the overall college experience. Numerous studies have shown that students who are engaged both academically and socially are more likely to be retained and successfully complete bachelor’s degrees,” Wafa reports.
Those who want to get involved by donating or contributing to the 2014 IUPUC Dance Marathon, should contact Ryan Wooley at rpwooley@iupuc.edu or Evin Ehrreich at evich@iupuc.edu.