Chapel Hill Magazine (pg. 34)

In March, Carolina For The Kids hosted its 21st annual Dance Marathon, a 24-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping fundraiser benefiting patients and families served by UNC Children's Hospital. The nonprofit organization, which has raised more than $6 million since its inception in 1997, raised $440,955 at this year's event.

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UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Marissa Devine (BSBA ’19) wants nothing more than to make a difference in the world. Her heart swells for programs that help children and their families facing enormous challenges. The experience is personal: When she was a kid, her 9-year-old cousin was diagnosed with brain cancer, and she saw the devastation experienced by the family.

When Devine arrived on the UNC campus as a first-year student, she searched for a way to contribute and make her mark. She found it in Carolina For The Kids (CFTK), which provides major emotional, medical and financial support for the patients and families served by UNC Children’s.

“The mission of Carolina For The Kids aligned perfectly with what I wanted to do,” says Devine.

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DTH

On Friday night, loud music and energized voices yelling and laughing could be heard from Fetzer Gym. And the buzz continued for quite a while: until 7 p.m. on Saturday night – just a bit less energized.

The UNC Dance Marathon, the largest Carolina For The Kids fundraising event and cumulative celebration of the year, kicked off Friday night at 7 p.m., with dancers preparing to tackle 24 hours of no sitting and no sleeping.

“It really shows people, ‘Oh wow, this is really hard to stand for 24 hours and not to sleep for 24 hours,” said Public Relations Chairperson Marissa Devine. "But I can’t imagine what it’s like to have to worry about my child and be awake for 24 hours and to not know what they’re going through or not to be able to be in their state." 

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Chapelboro

Your average marathon is no push-over, and even half-marathons are not to be taken lightly. Some runners take months to prepare.

But the Carolina for The Kids Dance Marathon represents a different kind of endurance challenge.

Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Fetzer Gym, hundreds of UNC students will not sit or sleep for 24 hours in support of the families and patients in UNC Children’s Hospital.

Marissa Devine of Carolina for The Kids said the event represents a culmination of year-long efforts for families and patients at UNC Children’s. But Devine also said the marathon represents a small symbolic stand for the challenges those patients face; the long sleepless nights, and the weeks or months of emotional strain.

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DTH

Carolina For The Kids, the largest student-run philanthropic organization in North Carolina, has set the goal to raise $60,000 in a 24-hour period on Feb. 11.

“We have all sorts of events planned, starting with the UNC basketball game, where we will be panning money there,” said Jane Henriques, the CFTK Events Coordinator. “We have day-long events and benefits throughout Feb. 12.”

Members of CFTK help UNC Children’s Hospitals in many ways, including volunteering at pediatric playrooms and serving weekly meals for parents staying extended periods at the hospital.

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DTH

A community staple for 30 years, the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill is a home away from home for families of seriously ill or injured children. 

If a child's family lives farther than 35 miles away from UNC Children's Hospital and has an emergency, a serious disease, illness or a broken limb, the family can stay at the house, which opened in 1988. 

Its work has been extensive, serving the people of Chapel Hill and giving students at UNC the chance to actively make a difference in their community.

“Students from the University are involved in a variety of different ways," said Haley Waxman, marketing and communications manager at the Ronald McDonald House.

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Chapel Hill Magazine (pg. 14)

In September, Carolina for The Kids (CFTK) hosted their seventh annual Kilometers for The Kids Fun Run and 5K. This event, entirely organized by UNC students, brought together 509 runners and raised more than $14,500 for UNC Children's Hospital.

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