'Since our founding in 1999, Carolina for the Kids has hit, and even surpassed, many milestones. The first dance marathon took place with 75 dancers and raised $40,000 FTK, and we have seen immense growth over the last twenty years. 

Only one year after the founding of the Dance Marathon, the For the Kids Fund was established and the first annual silent auction took place, which would later transform into the benefit reception. 

Following these developments, we continued to see big sponsors and endorsements, even from the Chapel Hill mayor in 2001. As we continued to grow, we saw appearances from Roy Williams and Will Ferrell, who showed their love FTK through the Marathon. 

In 2010 we established our Kid Co-Captain program, where children who have benefited from our work are invited to interact with our dancers and serve as a representation of all that we can achieve for the patients at UNC Children's. 

In the following years, the annual Kilometers FTK and For(mal) the Kids began. In the early years of the our organization, we were solely the Dance Marathon. However, with more team members and more support, we have broadened our horizons to host events throughout the year and partner with a variety of other organizations, creating Carolina for the Kids as we know it today. 

Our organization is now so much more than simply the dance marathon, although the marathon is still our largest event. Each year our fundraising efforts have increased and we have been able to do more and more for each family that we are able to assist. Although we have faced many obstacles in and outside of our organization, we have always stood strong and come through it together.

We have created our own history and supported the kids in the best ways that we could through both trying and exciting times. Right now is no different. 

With the issues and disruptions of COVID-19 in the forefront of everyone’s minds, it is easy to panic and lose sight of our mission. However, I encourage each and every one of you to take this time of reduced activity and unprecedented circumstances to remember why we do what we do. 

While the Coronavirus has led to increased hospitalization and medical expenses for many patients around the world, the families that we support have been learning to deal with these types of things for months or years now. 

Our funds continue to support UNC Children’s and the patients that benefit from the research grants, meals provided, and Ronald McDonald House stays. As our the Dance Marathon takes a virtual format for the first time in our history, we continue to be grateful for all that we can accomplish FTK and for all the support of so many dedicated people.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for helping us make history once again.

The Hospital & Family Relations Committee is one of 11 Carolina For The Kids committees. This committee’s primary goal is expanding and solidifying the relationships with UNC Children's, the patients and families of the hospital, and the organization. Specifically, the committee is involved in building relations with families, doctors, nurses and hospital administration, as well as planning ways for committee members to engage with patients and families through the Pediatric Playroom, Parents’ Night Out and other events. 

​The 2019-20 Hospital & Family Relations Committee is comprised of committee members, subchairs and a committee chair, Lauren Harrell. As a member of the Executive Board, Harrell is in charge of both coordinating committee tasks and organizing committee members. 
 
Throughout the academic year, the committee is in charge of organizing volunteers for PNO- a weekly dinner served to the parents of children who are staying on inpatient floors of N.C. Children’s Hospital, coordinating dinners for the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, fostering community relations and getting potential donors to come to CFTK events such as the annual Benefit Reception and UNC Dance Marathon. A large part of this committee is engaging with the hospital, whether that be communicating with the doctors and families or volunteering.  

Aimee Comanici was recognized by her committee chair is an outstanding committee member. Comanici joined Carolina For The Kids in 2018 and has been on the Hospital & Family Relations Committee for two years. As a freshman, she was diagnosed with cancer and was treated at UNC Hospitals Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic. During this experience, she was able to see how CFTK directly benefited patients and families of the hospital. 

While she did not directly receive funding from CFTK, she indirectly benefited from the parent sleeper sofas, funded by CFTK, which allows parents to sleep comfortably in their children’s rooms so they do not have to leave their children’s bedside. Ultimately, she joined CFTK because she was inspired to help others that went through a similar experience as her own. 
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As a committee member, Comanici volunteers with canning, sports events, PNO and the Ronald McDonald House. Her favorite experience as a part of CFTK is serving brunch at the Ronald McDonald House. At RMH, she enjoys hanging out with committee members, being involved with cooking and meeting the family members that she serves. 

For the upcoming 2020 UNC Dance Marathon, she is in charge of organizing a photo booth that will be featured at the event. Comanici is a prime example of how the Hospital & Family Relations Committee impacts lives, both inside and outside of the committee.

Kristin Van Epps is a member of the 2020 Public Relations Committee

I stepped out of my car and was greeted with a downpour of rain- umbrella in one hand and the end of my dress in the other, I scrambled to enter The Franklin Hotel. Pushing my way through the circle sliding door, my eyes arrived at the elegant elements of the lobby. The walls were adorned with beautiful paintings and lime green couches providing a welcoming feel. As my friends and I entered the venue, we were greeted by polite executive members eager for us to enter the event. As the music filled my ears, I smiled at the people I saw in front of me. We were all here together - for the kids!

On Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. Carolina For The Kids hosted its annual For(mal) the Kids. A black-tie event that was hosted at The Franklin Hotel.  The event featured a cash bar, finger food, a coat check and even a photo booth! All ticket purchases went towards benefiting the patients and families of UNC Children’s.  

This event provided college students of all grade levels the opportunity to participate in a formal experience while also benefiting CFTK. For the first time in the organization’s history, this year tickets sold out days before the day of the event - filling The Franklin to capacity.  Women showed up in long dresses, short dresses and rompers while men showed up in tuxedos. The night was filled with laughter, dancing and happy memories. 

Some highlights of the night:

• A dancing circle led by some of UNC’s finest dancers (we are known for Dance Marathon, after all)
  
  
• Line dancing that allowed us to meet new people 
• Cute pics from the photo booth to capture the memories 
• A reminder of why we’re here: the patients and families of UNC Children’s

The formal alone raised over $3,000 for the kids - an overall successful event for both college students and patients and families of UNC Children’s. It was an opportunity for organizational members to spend time with each other outside of meetings, celebrate one another, dress up and acknowledge each committee members’ hard work for CFTK. Executive members, committee members, dancers and their guests congregated into the beautifully decorated Franklin Hotel. As the night went on, couples danced together, friend groups took pictures at the photo booth, people enjoyed snacks and drinks and supporting a good cause. 

This event was largely successful because of the amount of people willing to participate. For(mal) the Kids goes to show that support for CFTK comes in many forms - including formal! Thank you to those that attended the formal, The Franklin Hotel, and the entertainment committee that helped organize the event. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Chloe Yopp is a member of the 2020 Public Relations Committee

Spring semester is picking up — your schedule is starting to fill up and you’re trying to decide how to spend your time. Blocking off 12 to 24 hours of your time for one thing may seem impossible, but it really doesn’t have to be. Here are a few reasons you should reconsider and sign up for the marathon :)

1. Are you a senior that hasn’t experienced Dance Marathon yet? Want to check off an item on the UNC Bucket List? Participating in Dance Marathon is on the official UNC Bucket List, so whether you’re a senior trying to check off those last few boxes or a freshman trying to get ahead of the game, sign up for Dance Marathon to cross it off your list. See it for yourself at number 56! (https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2017/08/the-new-and-improved-unc-bucket-list)
   
2. Need service hours for a club or to bulk up your resume? Sign up for Dance Marathon and you’ll be able to get 12-24 service hours all while having fun! You’ll even get to have a dance party, pet some hedgehogs, and eat lots of yummy food in the process.
   
3. Sick of eating dining hall food everyday? Don’t want to cook? If you participate in the marathon you’ll get A LOT of free food. I mean A LOT. Coffee, pizza, soda, energy bars, fruit, snacks, mac and cheese, donuts, if you want it, we've probably got it at some point during the marathon. And if you’re worried about allergies or other dietary restrictions, we’ve got you covered. We’ll make sure you have the accommodations you need to be fueled up during the marathon.
   
4. Ever wanted to see the sunrise over the Bell Tower? Sign up for the marathon and experience a sunrise first-hand from the one and only Kenan Stadium. It’ll be like nothing you’ve ever seen before AND it’ll reinvigorate you to get through the second half of the marathon!
   

      5. Are there any performance groups on campus you’ve been dying to see, but haven’t been able to make it to each
          of their showcases? Well they’re probably performing at dance marathon and if you sign up, you’ll have the
          opportunity to watch so many performances. With a capella groups, jump rope teams, dance groups, and so
          much more you won’t be disappointed. UNCDM is the ultimate ticket to see the hottest talent at UNC all in one
          place.

      6. Want to make an actual impact on lives? The last, and most important reason to sign up for UNC Dance
          Marathon is to make a difference. All of the money you raise will help provide emotional, medical and financial
          support to the patients and families of UNC Children’s. You’ll even get to meet some of those families during the
          marathon and see kids perform at our Kid Co-Captain Talent Show!

If any of these things peaked your interest, then grab some friends and sign up for Dance Marathon! Spend 24 hours dancing, eating, watching fun performances, and helping the patients and families of UNC Children’s Hospital along the way.

Last chance sign-ups are available through February 21st at 11:59pm - don’t wait, sign up today!

Ashlynne Hobcroft is a member of the 2020 Public Relations Committee

Christmas is over and it is now time to bring in not only a new year, but also a new decade! It is now time to create resolutions and prepare for the 2020 UNC Dance Marathon.

          1. Volunteer at the N.C. Children’s Hospital

There are many ways for anyone to get easily involved with both the patients and the families of the hospital. Some ways you can get involved are through Parent’s Night Out or by helping with the Pediatric Playroom. Ask your committee chair for more info about getting involved.

          2. Set a fundraising goal

As we approach the 2020 Dance Marathon, you can’t forget to fundraise! Create a plan and stick to it in order to fulfill and hopefully succeed the $200 goal. If you need some inspiration on getting started, check out this blog for more fundraising tips.

          3. Don’t forget about CFTK benefits!!

Support CFTK in any way possible, by setting a personal goal to go to at least two or three benefits each month. This is a great way to explore some new restaurants in the area all while supporting the patients and families of UNC Children’s. Follow us on social media to stay up to date on all of our benefits throughout the year.

          4. Recruit at least one friend to join CFTK in the fall!

As your friends become more involved, your motivation to become more invested into CFTK will not only sky rocket, but will also make your time in this organization one to remember. The spring semester will be over before you know it, and then you’ll have the chance to encourage even more friends to join you when committee recruitment week rolls around in August!

As CFTK members, we take pride in participating in Pediatric Playroom at UNC Children's Hospital. This supervised space in the hospital provides children with games, toys, and crafts to enjoy, especially when being confined to the hospital for extended periods of time.  Children can use this space to find an escape from their stress and boredom. It is crucial to have an outlet to calm or entertain the mind and maintain mental health. 

As college students, we can experience stress and boredom as well, but perhaps in different ways. Regardless of the stressors in our lives, there is a fun and creative way to find a little escape: DIY (Do It Yourself) stress balls! You can make them for yourself or others, maybe as a gift for this holiday season! You could even make stress balls for the children you will meet when you participate in Pediatric Playroom! Stress balls for everyone! 

The creation process is easy, accessible, and affordable. There are also endless ways to design your stress ball so it can fit any unique personality! Here is a very helpful guide for creating a very helpful stress ball!

What You Will Need:

• A balloon
• A funnel
• A 2 lb. (or larger) bag of all purpose flour 
• A measuring cup
• Colored sharpies (optional)
  
  

Directions:

1. Blow up your balloon and let the air blow back out. This allows the balloon to stretch out some.
   
   
2. Stick the narrow part of the funnel into the neck of the balloon.
   
   
3. Use the measuring cup to add flour to the funnel, slowly filling the balloon with flour. If the balloon clogs up, use your finger to push the flour into the balloon and clear the opening.
   
   
4. When the balloon is filled until right below the neck, stop adding flour and carefully let out any extra air from inside the balloon.
   
   
5. Tightly tie the neck of the balloon.
   
   
6. Enjoy your new stress ball! If you want, use different colored sharpies to decorate it!
   
   

We hope that this activity allows you to take a break from studying and focus your attention on something that calms you and fuels your creativity. It may be difficult to step away from important assignments, but studies have shown that regular breaks will actually increase your potential for success. Maybe getting your creative juices flowing will even inspire your next project! So next time you are feeling overwhelmed during an extended study period, stick to this stress ball protocol! 

Chloe Yopp is a member of the 2020 Public Relations committee.

Last week was dancer recruitment week so you know what that means…it’s time to get HYPE about the marathon! Now I know what you’re all thinking, yeah I’m excited for the dance marathon, and of course I want to help the patients and families at UNC Childrens, but how in the world am I going to raise all that money? Well don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are five quick and easy ways to raise your $200 in no time (and maybe even have some fun while doing it :))

1. Social Media BINGO (and other various social media endeavors)

​Everyone loves a good Instagram Story post and everyone loves playing games. Combine the two and what do you have? A great way to raise money FTK. Create a bingo board with totals ranging from $1-$5 and post it on social media with your Venmo username. Once one friend donates and everyone else sees, you’ll have raised money FTK in no time :)

2. Volunteer at Athletic Events

A couple days before Halloween, I went in to a Michael’s Craft Store looking for the finishing touches to my Halloween costume. To my surprise, it was easier to find gingerbread house kits and mistletoes than an angel halo headpiece or a fake pumpkin. The holiday spirit is so joyous, but what happened to the day where you surround yourself with the people you love the most and stuff your face with so much food until you go into a food coma?

Sometimes we get too caught up in the fast-paced world we live in. It is really hard to just take a moment and enjoy everything at your disposal. Rather than looking at Thanksgiving as a reference point to the upcoming holiday season or looking forward to Thanksgiving because you know Black Friday follows, we should continue to cherish the importance of this holiday and use it as a time to pause and reflect.

Thanksgiving is a time where one can be around their family and reflect on everything they’re grateful for. It is a time to acknowledge the smallest details that keep our lives going. 
There are so many times when I see college students, myself included, getting too caught up in the craziness of our daily lives, and we begin to complain and take things for granted. More often times than not we forget about how fortunate we are to simply be at college. I wanted to find more ways to express my gratitude and give back to the less fortunate.

There are a number of kids at UNC Children’s who simply are not well enough to travel home to spend Thanksgiving with their families or whose families do not have the funds to visit them at the hospitals for Thanksgiving. Although CFTK is able to assist some families in reuniting with one another for the holiday, there remain a number of families who are unable to all get together. So rather than referring to Thanksgiving as the holiday that gets us one step closer to Winter Break or stressing out because there will be so much finals studying, sit back and appreciate all of the things that got you to where you are today. Say thank you to the person that holds the door for you; call your parents and tell them you love them; if you are able to travel home for Thanksgiving break, appreciate that you have the means to do this; tell your friends how grateful you are. There are so many ways and opportunities to express gratitude, so use Thanksgiving as the day to really start doing so.