LIKE | FOLLOW | PIN | INSTAGRAM | SUBSCRIBE
This week’s Philanthropy Spotlight was written by Editorial Intern and current Northwestern University student Bisola Sosan. This is her second year participating in this fundraiser and she would very much appreciate your support.
The first weekend in March will mark the culmination of Northwestern University’s efforts to raise money and awareness for their annual—and largest—philanthropic event, Dance Marathon. For thirty hours from March 8th– 10th, under the signature white tent, over a thousand Northwestern students will dance to live music and DJs in order to benefit a primary organization as well as the Evanston Community Foundation. The primary beneficiary for the 2013 Dance Marathon will be the Danny Did Foundation. Since its founding in 1975, Dance Marathon has raised over $13 million for various beneficiaries such as: Easter Seals, the Children’s Heart Foundation, Leukemia Society, and many more. and this year our efforts will beenfit another great cause, Danny Did Foundation.
Daniel George Stanton March 2, 2005-Decembr 12, 2009
Danny Did Foundation is a Chicago-based, not-for-profit organization founded in 2010 by Mike and Mariann Stanton after their four year-old son Danny suffered, and ultimately passed from a seizure in his sleep. Their main objective is to prevent deaths caused by seizures, focusing mostly on children. To achieve this, the foundation has outlined two overarching goals:
1) Advancing awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) via enhancing the SUDEP communication model between medical professionals and those afflicted by seizures,
2) The mainstreaming of seizure detection and seizure prediction devices that may assist in preventing deaths caused by seizures.
One in ten people in America have been diagnosed with epilepsy, but like many neurologic afflictions, the cause and cure for SUDEP continue to elude medical professionals. For now, the best way to tackle the problem is to promote preventative measures. Danny Did not only works to spread awareness of the disorder through fundraising efforts, but the organization also showcases technological advances toward the prevention of seizures. One of the most prominent devices is called SmartWatch which makes it easy and simple to detect and then prevent an epileptic episode.
“The device analyzes motion patterns for abnormalities and automatically issues alerts upon the onset of various types of repetitive and excessive movements. Users can also summon help with a simple push of a button. The device records movement patterns plus the time and duration of any unusual events.”
It’s an incredibly useful tool for those who are on the go and want to rest easy knowing that their child or other loved one will be able to get help if needed.
The dancers and various committees at Northwestern University have been working for months to raise money-each with a minimum $400 fundraising goal-before the final countdown to the thirty- hour marathon by writing letters to family and friends, Northwestern sporting events, and hosting bake sales, to name a few of our fundraising efforts. If you would like to get involved with Dance Marathon, you may register to participate in the NUDM 5K run, become a sponsor, or donate. On the days of Dance Marathon, you can also stop by the tent located on the East Lawn of Northwestern’s Norris Student Center to support any of the student dancers. Dance Marathon is a great event to get students more familiar with large-scale fundraising efforts as well as an opportunity to work in groups toward a common goal.
Please feel free to contact me(Bisola Sosan) if you have interest in donating, or otherwise participating in this year’s Dance Marathon.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE
