Dance Marathon at FSU (DM@FSU) made its annual pilgrimage to the College of Medicine on Monday to celebrate the success of its 29th year raising money for pediatric care for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) and to share a portion of the proceeds.
“It’s my absolute pleasure to present this check on behalf of Dance Marathon at Florida State University to the FSU College of Medicine pediatric outreach programs,” said Darcy Sullivan, DM@FSU’s executive director — who paused dramatically before the big reveal — “for $571, 584.16!”
The amount represents almost half of the $1.24 million FSU’s largest student-run philanthropy raised in the 2024 campaign. Funds raised in Tallahassee included proceeds from mini-dance marathons conducted by six area high schools and three middle schools, which collectively raised more than $358,000. DM@FSU supports UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville and the FSU College of Medicine’s local pediatric outreach programs.
“I want to congratulate everyone who took part and supported Dance Marathon at FSU this year, as we are on a winning streak!” said College of Medicine Dean Dr. Alma B. Littles, who hosted the check presentation ceremony and ice cream social that followed. “This is the 10th year Dance Marathon at FSU has raised more than $1 million.”
Since its inception, DM@FSU has raised more than $21.5 million, with $9.7 million coming back to the College of Medicine for outreach programs. It is one of the top five CMNH dance marathons nationally and in July was recognized with the Participant Activation Award for using “strategic planning and communication to recruit, inspire, educate and motivate participants to become active peer-to-peer fundraisers,” Littles added.
Dr. Rashmin Savani, chair of the University of Florida’s College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, as well as physician-in-chief for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, was one of several UF Health and CMNH leaders who made the drive from Gainesville for the celebration, including Heather Mears, executive director of Children’s and Hospital Fundraising; Stephanie Nicholas, associate director of development for UF Health; Jessica Layne, director, and Kaley Krick, development associate, at CMNH.
In his remarks, Savani noted how close DM@FSU is to reaching a couple of milestones.
“You are on the cusp of $10 million,” he said. “I can’t think of a more exciting way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Dance Marathon at FSU.”
The dance-fest itself spans 26.2 hours over three days at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, closing out on the first Sunday in March each year. But the planning, fund-raising and devotion to the “Miracle Kids” and their families goes on year-round.
“You won’t meet more devoted, passionate and motivated students than the ones who make this commitment,” Littles said.
Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht represented FSU’s president and provost. She’s an annual fixture at the annual check presentation because DM@FSU is personal for her; both her children needed care at UF Health Shands. She reported that her 5-year-old daughter, who was born with a congenital heart defect, and her 9-year-old daughter, who was diagnosed with leukemia not long after her sister’s successful surgery, are both healthy.
“They love coming to Dance Marathon,” she said. “They’re proud of their journeys.”
Representatives from seven community partners also joined the celebration, staffing tables throughout the atrium covered with informational brochures about the services they offer and fun “bling,” such as pens, coffee cups, note pads and clips.
The FSU College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach includes:
- School-based clinics in Gadsden County. Partnering with the Gadsden County Department of Health and Gadsden County Schools, College of Medicine nurse practitioners provide health care at five schools. “It’s the only access to health care that a lot of these kids have,” Littles said.
- FSU Primary Health center, which the College of Medicine opened five years ago in southwest Tallahassee, is located in both a food desert and a health care desert. DM@FSU helps support the strong collaboration among the center’s licensed clinical social worker, pediatrician and family physician.
- Bond Community Health Center upgraded its mobile health unit to provide dental services to medically underserved areas throughout the community, many of whom had never seen a dentist before. A brick-and-mortar dental clinic has been added at Sabal Palm Elementary School, a community partnership school near FSU Primary Health. “The dental need in Leon County is so great,” said Temple Robinson, M.D., Bond’s chief executive officer.
- Big Bend Hospice provides free counseling for children and youth who have lost a loved one in the eight-county region. Whitney Snow, youth grief counselor, and Pam Mezzina, bereavement manager, said the Taylor County community of Steinhatchee has been particularly hard hit with back-to-back hurricanes in 2023 and 2024, Idalia and Debby. In addition, the county’s largest employer, a paper mill operated by Georgia Pacific, shut down. “So not only have they lost a loved one recently, maybe they had to move, too,” Mezzina said.
- Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare receives DM@FSU funds for two programs, Women’s and Children’s Services, which also provides perinatal services, and the Music Therapy Program in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit. Music Therapy Director Valerie Bowen said music can help preemies catch up on developments that full-term newborns experience in the womb.
- The Florida State University Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy’s Early Head Start program in Gadsden County. DM helps provide transportation to children for medical appointments, health screening and health care coordination, as well as having a nurse educator for pregnant and parenting teens in the Big
- The Hang Tough Foundation offers resources and encouragement to families during their journey with childhood illness and special needs. Executive Director Danielle Howard said the organization’s approach has been tailored to address the needs of clients. “So many of our families have such unique needs that we are pairing them with a seasoned adult, an advocate, who will build a team of support,” Howard said. “Maybe there’s a doctor’s appointment and the caregiver could use a call of encouragement, or transportation. And there’s room for younger people to help, too. Maybe the family needs a babysitter.”
