DemonTHON raises over $100k for Children's Memorial, Miracle Network

DePaul’s 24-hour dance marathon DemonTHON, held April 20 and 21, raised a record $103,700 ($103,700.28 to be exact) for Children’s Memorial Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network, surpassing the record for funds raised by a first-year dance marathon by almost $40,000.

According to Bill Mattera, staff advisor for the event, the amount raised by DePaul students was the largest first-year total in history for any college dance marathon. Around 170 schools nationwide hold dance marathon fundraisers each year. The previous first-year record stood at $66,000. DemonTHON was also the first collegiate dance marathon to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Nearly 140 dancers and 120 volunteers, all DePaul students, boogied-down at the lengthy dance event at the McGrath Arena beginning at 5 p.m., April 20 and ending at 5 p.m., April 21. Dancers had the opportunity to meet families from the hospital, interact with the kids they were standing for, and truly see the connection between DePaul’s Vincentian Mission and the hospital.

University President Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, addressed students Friday evening, describing DemonTHON as an experience that demonstrates “DePaul at its finest.” He then shared the story of his connection to Children’s Memorial and introduced one of the families from the hospital. Holtschneider returned late Saturday afternoon to see the final reveal at 5 p.m.

“DemonTHON was extremely inspiring, from the very start on Friday you could tell that the dancers and volunteers were really committed to making DemonTHON all about the kids,” said DePaul sophomore Megan Laudenslager. “Seeing the families and hearing their stories was an experience that I’ll never forget. It makes you appreciate everything you have.”

During the all-day-and-night event, bands, DJs, singing groups, games led by Morale Captains and, of course, dancing, entertained committee members and dancers. Every hour on the hour participants did the “Morale Dance,” which was taught to participants at the beginning of the event, to mark time throughout the night.

The big event reached a pinnacle with Power Hour, the last hour to go that led to the final “Morale Dance” and the reveal of the total number of dollars raised. When the time finally came to unveil the amount, there were uproars of cheer, emotion and solace, particularly from Zac Johnson of Children’s Miracle Network who attended the event and left with tears in his eyes because of how incredible it turned out to be.

External Director of DemonTHON and DePaul student Blair Janis shared her gratitude for all the help they received.

“We are grateful for the support of DePaul University, local and corporate businesses that sponsored the event and , of course, the students,” Janis said. “Our dancers committed to raising $250 and to standing for 24 hours in solidarity with kids facing life altering pediatric illnesses at Children’s Memorial Hospital and their families. We could not be more proud.”

The President of Children’s Memorial Hospital Foundation, Tom Sullivan, expressed his gratitude during the closing ceremonies. Sullivan flew in from Germany to attend DemonTHON.

Edie Morris, junior, spoke of why she danced “FTK” (For The Kids) and how DemonTHON changed everything for her.

“Standing for 24 hours really takes a toll on your body, but these kids Children’s Memorial is helping are in chronic pain,” she said. “Realizing that the pain I felt for 24 hours is what these kids are feeling all the time is what motivated me to keep pushing through and dancing...For The Kids, always.”