College of Medicine

The Civic Center’s bricks may still be vibrating from Dance Marathon weekend. From Friday night, March 28, until Sunday afternoon, March 30, music was pounding as about 1,300 students — split into two shifts — danced for 20 hours each. Every spring they dance to raise money for pediatric outreach programs, and this year they raised more than ever: over $781,000.

That’s good news for the College of Medicine, because it receives roughly half of that amount to benefit children throughout Leon and Gadsden counties. Dean John Fogarty and a grateful group from the College of Medicine visited Sunday morning to bring popsicles for the dancers, and returned for the high-octane closing ceremonies to express their thanks.

Here’s how it works: Dance Marathon at FSU, the largest student-run philanthropy on campus, turns in the money it raises to Children’s Miracle Network at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. Then, later in the year, they present a check to the College of Medicine. Last year, that check exceeded $330,000.

The medical school uses part of the proceeds to pay for school-based health programs in Gadsden County designed to address health-care disparities among area children. Other projects funded include equipment for the pediatrics unit at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and bereavement services for children at Big Bend Hospice.

Next year, Dance Marathon at FSU will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.