Above: A poster that displays “dancing for a sweeter tomorrow,” Dance Marathon’s theme this year. Photo courtesy of Brynn Christian.
Every semester, SAU’s Dance Marathon has a Push Day event. Located in the Rogalski Center, the event lasted from 11 am to midnight on February 20th, 2025. There was also a bake sale in the lower level of Ambrose Hall, The Beehive, from 11 am to 4 pm. They sold snacks such as cookies, brownies, and puppy chow.
SAU sophomore and early education major, Faith Foley, says “Push Day is a 24-hour event where you’re pushing to raise as much as possible. There is a fall and spring push day. There are activities and incentives throughout the day, and you spend 24 hours trying to get as many donations as possible. By the end of the night, you do a big reveal. Our goal this semester is $25,000.” In past years, Dance Marathon has raised about $30,000 each semester.
This year, Organizers say Dance Marathon focuses on raising money for the University of Iowas Stead Children’s Hospital, focusing particularly on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It helps provide medical care for ill or premature babies. For every dollar donated, 18% helps provide charitable care, 15% goes to life-saving equipment, 12% goes to medical research, and 55% provides education, patient, and advancement services.
There were plenty of events throughout Push Day to help raise money. This included 3v3 basketball, Executive Punishment, and letter writing. Towards the end of the night, there was a candle service in memory of all the kiddos that have been helped in the past.
Families from the hospital came into the ballroom and talked about their experiences with Dance Marathon and how they have been greatly affected. Many families have said they were thankful that St. Ambrose’s Dance Marathon has helped them and their families. With an hour break before the next event, many students and kiddos were able to eat food, play just dance, and learn more about each other. Other events include a 3v3 basketball event. Teams of 3 paid $5 to have a 3v3 basketball tournament. The team that got first place won $100, the second-place team won $75, and the third-place team won $50.
SAU junior Allison Meyer, who is also the family relations director, said Push Day is important to her as well. “We do this all for our kiddos and as our family relations director, we get to work with them directly. Working with them and making memories is really important to me.”
Throughout the year, members of Dance Marathon create many activities for families and children at the hospital. Not only are they raising money, they are creating memories and getting to know the families on a personal level. At the end of the night, they successfully raised $25,419.97, $420 more than their goal. Overall, Push Day was a success and many members were excited for the Big Event to come. Big Event is an all-day event where members of Dance Marathon and their Kiddos “Party for a Purpose.” They dance on the main stage to raise money for the Iowa Hospital for 13 hours, lasting until almost 12:30 in the morning. This year’s Big Event will be located in the Rogalski Center Ballroom on April 5th, 2025. Last year, Dance Marathon Organizers raised $74,976.59.
Brynn Christian is a staff writer for The Buzz.
