UofSC Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Molly Burns
(803) 403-3127

UofSC’s Dance Marathon Organization Raises Over One Million Dollars for
Child Life Department

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Mar. 5, 2020) – After 14 hours of dancing at the University of South
Carolina’s Dance Marathon Main Event on February 29, a total of $1,016,822 was revealed to
have been raised by over 2,000 student participants for the Child Life Department at Prisma
Children’s Hospital.

The University of South Carolina Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropic
organization on campus. 2020 is the 22nd year that the organization has raised money for the
Child Life Department at Prisma Children’s Hospital. Over the past six years, USCDM has
raised over $5 million in funds “for the kids”. USCDM is known as one of the top ten Dance
Marathon organizations in the country.

University of South Carolina Dance Marathon President Justin Gill says, “That was freaking
incredible. You just raised a million dollars” as he speaks to the 2,000 registered participants that
danced at the Main Event held at the Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center.

A staff of nearly 200 UofSC students work year-round to raise money for the Child Life
Department. The Child Life Department is driven to make hospital stays and treatments as
comfortable as possible for the kids, as well as providing support for the kids and their families.
Not only does the USCDM staff raise money year-round, but they also spend time with children
in the hospital. These children are known as “Miracle Kids” around USCDM. Those interested
can donate online at http://www.uscdm.org to support a particular team member (past or present)
or a Miracle Kid. This link can also be used to sign up to participate and fundraise for USCDM
2021.
Dance Marathon at the University of South Carolina is a student-run philanthropy organization
on the University of South Carolina – Columbia campus. It is an annual spring event that
celebrates the culmination of a year’s worth of efforts to raise financial and emotional support
for the patients of Prima Health’s Children’s Hospital located in Columbia.