Carolina For The Kids Announces “50K in 1 Day” Event​

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina For The Kids Foundation will launch its “50K in 1 Day” fundraising event on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.

All money raised by Carolina FTK beginning Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. until Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7:00 p.m., will count toward the $50,000 goal benefitting the patients and families of UNC Children’s.

This marks the second year Carolina FTK will attempt to raise $50,000 in 24-hours. In 2016, Carolina FTK raised $49,000.

“Last year we challenged ourselves to raise $50,000 and just barely missed our goal,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Brown. “We believe that with UNC students and the community behind us that we will be able to meet our target this year. $50,000 can help so many patients and families of the UNC Children’s Hospital and that’s what really matters.”
The “50K in 1 Day” event will begin Tuesday night at the UNC men’s basketball game vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers, where guests will be encouraged to donate online as well as to Carolina FTK committee members who will be present at the game. On Feb. 1, Carolina FTK will host various activities, including fundraisers on the UNC-CH campus, social media pushes, canvassing in Chapel Hill neighborhoods and benefits at local businesses, that will all contribute to the goal.

“We are very excited to be working with Carolina Athletics to give sports fans a greater opportunity to support Carolina For The Kids,” Brown said. “If everyone at the basketball game gave $3, we would reach our goal.”

Community members can make donations online at carolinaftk.org/donate.

CAROLINA FTK RAISES OVER $614,000 FOR UNC CHILDREN’S

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 2016 UNC Dance Marathon raised $614,717 for the patients and 
families of UNC Children’s, the most in UNCDM history. This year’s total also allowed Carolina For The Kids Foundation to break the $5 million mark for its overall total. Since its inception since 1999, CFTK has now raised more than $5.4 million.

The 18th annual Marathon, which took place from April 1­2, was presented by Carolina FTK. CFTK is the largest student­run philanthropic organization in North Carolina and works year-round to benefit the patients and families served by UNC Children’s. 

“Setting a new record for fundraising this year is incredibly exciting ­ that’s a number that reflects the impact we will be able to make for the patients and families at UNC Children’s,” said CFTK Executive Director Meagan Barger. 

“But what this organization has accomplished this year is also so much more than just that number. The interaction at Parents’ Night Out, the schools in the area that became involved in our cause and threw a mini dance marathon, the community and support ­ that’s what I want people to take away from this year.”

The funds raised from this year’s Marathon will support initiatives at the hospital, including the building of an off­site pediatric primary care clinic. Carolina FTK has pledged $2.5 million toward this project, which will provide care to patients from all 100 counties of North Carolina and parts of southern Virginia. A temporary clinic site is already in operation.

“Having such a great year of fundraising will definitely help us in the process of building a new primary care clinic for UNC Children’s” said Barger. “As our largest project, it’s exciting that we are well on our way to making it a reality.”

CAROLINA FOR THE KIDS FOUNDATION HOSTS 18th ANNUAL UNC DANCE MARATHON

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – More than 2,000 UNC-Chapel Hill students will stand on their feet for the annual 24-hour UNC Dance Marathon from 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2016, to 6:30 p.m Saturday, April 2.

This event is presented by the Carolina For The Kids Foundation and held in Fetzer Gym on UNC’s campus. Carolina FTK is the largest student-run nonprofit in North Carolina, working year-round to benefit the patients and families of UNC Children’s.

The theme of the 18th annual UNC Dance Marathon is “In The Spotlight,” which will include a red carpet through Hospital Hallway, an area centered around the Marathon’s kid co-captains, and other theme-related activities throughout the event.

“We have recruited more dancers this year than in previous years, so the Marathon is going to be bigger than ever,” said Executive Director Meagan Barger. Carolina FTK is comprised of fourteen committees, with responsibilities ranging from community outreach to event donations.

This year’s Marathon will have many similarities to ones in the past, including a sunrise walk through Kenan Stadium, a Kid Co-Captain talent show and Family Hour, where families will share their Carolina FTK stories and experiences with the dancers.

While the last moments of the Marathon are the most emotional, Barger is excited for the very first.

“I am most looking forward to the moment in which so many UNC students stand up together to begin the Marathon,” said Barger. “That moment signifies the start of 24 hours of a unified stand for the patients and families. I've been looking forward to this moment since I last sat down.”

Event highlights for the 2016 UNC Dance Marathon include:

Friday April 1, 2016

• 5:30 p.m. Doors Open
• 6:30 p.m. Marathon Kickoff

Saturday April 2, 2016

• 1:00 a.m Hooker Fields
• 6:30 a.m. Kenan Walk
• 11 a.m. Rave
• 1:15 p.m. Hooker Fields with kids and families
• 4 p.m. Kid Co-Captain Talent Show
• 4:30 p.m. Kid Co-Captain Introductions and Family Hour 
• 6:30 p.m. Fundraising Total Reveal

If you would like more information, would like to schedule an interview or are interested in attending the 2016 UNC Dance Marathon, please contact Elisabeth McFarland at [email protected]

Carolina For The Kids Announces “50K in One Day” Event

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Carolina For The Kids Foundation will kick off its “50K in One Day” fundraising event on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016.

All money raised by CFTK beginning Monday evening until Tuesday, March 1, will count toward the $50,000 goal benefiting the patients and families of UNC Children’s.

This year’s goal doubles that of last year. In 2015, CFTK attempted to raise $25,000 in 25 hours and exceeded that goal by over $13,000.

“We raised more than $38,000 last year thanks to the generosity of students, their families and local businesses,” said Elizabeth Soffer, CFTK corporate marketing chair. “We're proud of that major fundraising accomplishment, and we have raised our goal this year to better reflect our nonprofit's goals for growth.”

The “50K in One Day” event will begin Monday night at the UNC men’s basketball game vs. Syracuse, during which CFTK committee members will collect donations. On March 1, there will be a variety of activities taking place, including fundraisers on UNC’s campus, benefits at local businesses, social media pushes and canvassing Chapel Hill neighborhoods.

“So much good can be done in just 24 hours – we want the world to see that,” Soffer said. “50K allows us 
to share our sense of purpose for every single day with Chapel Hill and beyond.”

With $50,000, 115 families can be provided with bill payment assistance for a month, Soffer added.

Community members can make donations online at carolinaftk.org/donate.

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO HOST DANCE MARATHON BENEFITING CFTK

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina For The Kids, formerly known as UNC Dance Marathon, has been assisting East Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Chapel Hill High Schools in planning their first ever dance marathon, which will take place at East Chapel Hill High School on Feb. 20 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.

“Getting multiple schools involved in a mini marathon has been a huge goal of mine for this year,” CFTK Community Outreach Chair Elizabeth Brown said. “An event like this is one that can continue for years to come and has the potential to grow into something huge. So many high schoolers will hear about our cause on Saturday and will carry that with them into college and make a difference there as well.”

The East Chapel Hill student government has been working with assistance from CFTK and the other two schools to plan and put on the event.

“I’m looking forward to being able to host and hopefully start a tradition of having this event with all three schools,” Davida Halev, student body president of East Chapel Hill High School, said.

Over 100 students from the three high schools have registered, but anyone can attend the marathon. Tickets will be $30 at the door. All proceeds will benefit CFTK, which uses the money to help the patients and families of UNC Children’s.

“I’m looking forward to being able to help make an impact on the kids’ – and their families’ – lives,” Halev said.

CFTK TO HOLD FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE AT UNC BASKETBALL GAME

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, Carolina For The Kids Foundation will hold its annual Smith Center Children’s Challenge. During the UNC men’s basketball game versus N.C. State, which begins at noon, CFTK will collect donations to benefit the patients and families of UNC Children’s.

“The Smith Center Children’s Challenge allows the Chapel Hill community to come together and make a difference, for the kids,” said CFTK Executive Director Meagan Barger. “We are able to reach students, alumni, sports fans and more in a cause that is right down the road from the Dean Smith Center, and I think that's really special.”

CFTK is encouraging those who attend the game to consider making a donation. If everyone brought at least $1, the organization could raise more than $20,000 in just one afternoon.

“As a community of fans, we are given the opportunity Saturday to not only beat one of our most rivaled teams but also to support a cause greater than your average basketball game,” said Barger.

CAROLINA FOR THE KIDS FOUNDATION TO HOST ANNUAL KFTK RACE

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina For The Kids Foundation will host its fourth annual Kilometers For The Kids race on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, at the Old Well on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. The event will feature a one­mile Fun Run and 5K.

For the first time ever, KFTK will be part of UNC’s 2015 Family Weekend, thanks to a  partnership with the Office of New Student and Carolina Parent Programs.

“It really means a lot to us that the University as a whole continues to believe in what Carolina For The Kids does,” said Operations Chair Stuart Agnew.

At last year’s race, CFTK announced its biggest project yet – a $2.5 million, off­ campus clinic for N.C. Children’s Hospital. All proceeds from the 2015 KFTK will go toward this new clinic, which opened in July at an interim location on E. Franklin Street, in addition to CFTK’s ongoing grants.

“This new clinic will create an opportunity to have a cutting­ edge program that will give families and children with complex medical illnesses and other challenges what they need and deserve,” said Dr. Michael Steiner, division chief for general pediatrics and adolescent medicine at N.C. Children’s Hospital.

The 5K will start at 9 a.m., and the Fun Run will begin at 9:15 a.m. Pre and post­race activities will take place at McCorkle Place, located directly next to the Old Well. There will also be light refreshments following the event. For more information about KFTK, please visit carolinaftk.org/race.