Since 1995, Dance Marathon has grown into a nation wide movement with people all around the US supporting the same cause.

The Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon program began in 1991 when Indiana University raised more than $60,000 after their third event for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Fund. The Indiana University Dance Marathon Council (IUDMC) established this fund at Riley Hospital for Children, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital in Indianapolis.

The tradition of dance marathon began as a contest in which the last couple standing was declared the winner. That concept began to change in 1973 when Penn State’s inter-fraternity Council began a dance marathon as a fundraiser. By 1977, it had a set length of 48 hours and was an annual benefit for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State’s Hersey Medical Center. Today the Penn State IFC/Panhellenenic Dance Marathon raises over $4 million annually.

Currently, almost a hundred schools and thousands of students across North America participate in Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon. This includes schools of all sizes, colleges and universities and some high schools.

All funds raised through any Dance Marathon program goes directly towards their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Here at Emmanuel, we have the pleasure in helping out our little neighbors just a few blocks away at Boston Children’s Hospital. Every cent we raise goes directly towards the Every Child Fund which is unrestricted philanthropy money.

The start of Emmanuel College Dance Marathon was in 2012. Our very own Dance Marathon was held on April 14th, 2012. In their first year, the ECDM committee set a goal to raise $15,000 during their 12 hour event, which was $5,000 more than the average amount raised by any school with the enrollment size of Emmanuel College. Through their commitment to the kids, Emmanuel’s first Dance Marathon raised over $18,500 making it, at the time, the largest fundraised of Dance Marathon in the history of any Boston run Dance Marathon. This record breaking and historical movement for Emmanuel’s campus set the bar high for following years and has only grown.

In 2019, Emmanuel College Dance Marathon set a commitment to raise $100,000 for the kids. We met our goal and more!

Emmanuel College Dance Marathon is one of the most anticipated on campus events as well as the largest student run philanthropic event.

What We've Achieved