It’s been almost one month since UNI Dance Marathon hosted the 6th Annual UNI Dance Marathon Big Event and man- what a crazy weekend that was. As many of you know, I had the incredible honor and privilege to serve in this organization as one of the Executive Directors for 2016 - 2017 and I am very thankful for the experience. Throughout this year, I got to walk alongside the families UNI Dance Marathon supports- listening to their stories, playing with their kids, and raising money for the hospital that every single one of them has called home.

I’ve taken a lot of time to reflect over the past year and wanted to take some additional time to thank those who donated to me this year. Thank you for donating to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and the kiddos I have had the privilege of meeting and knowing. Thank you for believing in something I care so much about- it means a lot to me that you were willing to donate. I have spent 6 years getting to know this organization and am completely baffled by the love and support I have received from friends, family members, and strangers who have wanted to donate.

While I did not reach my personal fundraising goal for the year, the really neat thing about that is that it doesn’t matter. This year, I raised just over $2,700 FTK and every single dollar raised means lives will be changed down in Iowa City!

UNI DM as an entire organization set a goal to raise $400,000 in a year of fundraising and at the end of our Big Event, we were able to write a check for $453,278.06- almost half a million dollars raised for the UI Stead Family Children's Hospital!

I am forever thankful for all this organization has given me over the past six years. I never knew what this organization was all about when I danced as a freshmen at the first ever Big Event, but I know now that I will forever proudly be FTK. Thank you to everybody who supported me in this journey- I greatly appreciate it.

- DV