It’s 2024, and it’s time to dance! Dance Marathon is a fundraiser that raises money for the Iowa Children’s Hospital. Rock Island High School fundraises the first half of second semester to get people to come to an event. This event helps raise money for the hospital and the patients, as well as their families there.
Mr. Isaiah Tubbs is one of the Student Council sponsors here at RIHS. To Tubbs, seeing “the total amount of money raised at the end of the fundraiser is extremely rewarding.” Tubbs holds an important role in the event, including organizing the event itself. “I was the main person communicating with St. Ambrose and our school. I also was the main person in charge of managing our online donor page, and managing the cash donations we got, as well.” Tubbs is also one of the leaders for the Student Council, who helps put together these events and helps advertise, as well.
Many mini events were held during the time period of fundraising for the Dance Marathon. Restaurants like Raising Canes, Panera, Poncheros, and Cookies and Dreams held food nights where portions of your money paid went to the fundraiser. The students involved in Student Council helped make signs to promote the event.
On March 29 of 2024, a Dance Marathon was held. While there were snacks and drinks, it was the dancing that brought everyone together. We raised funds and had guest speakers to help educate the RIHS student body on what this fundraiser is truly about.
Student involvement is something that allows students not only to have fun, but also be educated and help out on certain things like fundraisers, events, and much more. Dance Marathon is primarily to raise money for those in need, but also it allows students to do something fun within the school, while hearing other stories about their life stories. “The most rewarding part of going to the Dance Marathon was that I got to see how happy everyone is to raise money for the children’s hospitals and help their families,” stated Cecilia Padilla, explaining what she found most enjoyable about the event. During the event, she told her amazing story of her life, and the challenges she has faced and overcome. “The way I am involved with Dance Marathons is that I am actually one of the families that we raise money for and we support,” she explained. Cecilia finds the bright side of everything, and she really enjoyed seeing how the student body likes to promote and raise money for a cause that affects her.
In conclusion, the event was a success, and each and every day you have to look at the people around you, and ask yourself what you can do for them, and less of what they can do for you. It can be difficult for some people to feel welcome, especially in high school, so to be able to host an event that allows everyone to come out and support a good cause is truly something special.
