UCLA’s Dance Marathon
Sunday, February 20th, 2011It’s super early…earlier than I usually wake up…but it’s for a good cause. In 1 hour, I’ll drop a 4 hour set at UCLA’s Dance Marathon.
Dance marathon is a 26 hour event…the culmination of months of fundraising to benefit pediatric AIDS research. The students involved stay on their feet for the entire 26 hours of dancing!
The proceeds specifically benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation – the largest pediatric AIDS foundation in the United States – and Project Kindle and One Heartland, two free summer camp programs that provide HIV-affected children with the experience of a lifetime. PAC also welcomes its newest addition, now benefiting the UCLA AIDS institute, which conducts AIDS research here at UCLA.
In 2010 alone, Dance Marathon united over 3,000 supporters and grossed over $407,000 in financial contributions. Moreover, since its inception in 2002, DM has sought to empower the UCLA campus community in the fight against pediatric AIDS, raising awareness about the importance of HIV education and testing and helping young people make a difference in halting the spread of this critical, preventable disease.
Now in its tenth consecutive year, DM has established itself as a tradition on the UCLA campus and among the Los Angeles community. Still a young organization, DM is constantly looking for new, innovative ways to unite students, community activists, celebrities and leaders around the cause of pediatric AIDS through the same dedication and enthusiasm it has exhibited for the past nine years.
This is my fourth year as a DJ for the event, and I look forward to it every year. I usually get the closing set, and to see the energy still in the room as I bring these kids to the countdown when they get to sit down and see how much money they’ve raised is just amazing! Watch this space and later on I’ll post how much money we raised this year!
