DanceBlue 2017 Committee Applications Now Available

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 28, 2016) — Over the past 11 years at the University of Kentucky, DanceBlue has raised $9.8 million for the Golden Matrix Fund, which benefits the Kentucky Children’s Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic. But, DanceBlue is defined by something much greater than the number it has raised. The no-sitting, no-sleeping 24-hour dance marathon is a way to get involved on campus with a dedicated, passionate group of students who collaborate throughout the year to prepare for the 2017 event.

There are three committee applications available now:

Family Relations Committee - Members volunteer weekly with the clinic patients, attend and put on seasonal parties for the families and act as the hands and feet of the organization with the families DanceBlue exists to serve.

Morale Committee – Members act as the liaisons between student dancers and committee during the marathon by leading a morale group of 20-25 students. Throughout the year, morale attends mini marathons with the rest of committee at high schools across the state. They also table throughout the year during different DanceBlue initiatives, attend community events, and help all areas of committee when needed.

Corporate Committee – Members work with the corporate chair and coordinators to secure corporate donations throughout the year. In the fall, this committee works to put on the DanceBlue Silent Auction event. After this event, all efforts move toward acquiring corporate donations to benefit the final total, as well as the marathon as a whole.

Once students are back on campus for the fall 2017 semester, applications will be released to the two other committees — programming and operations.

Programming Committee – Members plan each minute of the 2017 marathon. Programmers work with partners, as well as the programming chair and coordinators to bring fun events to the marathon for the dancers, crowd and everyone else involved.

Operations Committee – Members work to plan, organize and put on the DanceBlue 5K that takes place in the fall. After, they work to plan and organize for the 2017 dance marathon. The marathon is put on by this committee, from set up, check in and breakdown, they make sure DanceBlue happens!

For those interested in any of these committees, do not hesitate to apply. DanceBlue encourages everyone to apply to any and all opportunities that peak their interest.

“What you learn from your involvement with DanceBlue committee is hard to put into words," said Allee Williams, DanceBlue public relations chair. "You learn how to love a cause and the people around you much deeper. You learn how to commit to something bigger than yourself and see it through. You learn that kids much younger than you are much stronger and more inspiring than imaginable. Ultimately, DanceBlue changes your heart, mind and gives you some pretty great dance skills while you are at it. I would do committee for the rest of my life if I could. Do not miss out, come to the Committee Information Session and apply while you can!”

Students can now apply for committee positions for DanceBlue 2017 applications until April 8 at www.danceblue.org or by searching for DanceBlue on Orgsync.

Students are invited to come find out more at a Committee Information Session on March 31, in 106 White Hall Classroom Building. Sessions will be held at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

Give to DanceBlue here and connect with DanceBlue on Facebook at www.facebook.com/danceblue and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/UKDanceBlue.

DanceBlue is a program housed in the UK Center for Community Outreach. The CCO seeks to serve, connect and unite the University of Kentucky with the surrounding community in collaborative efforts to promote lifelong community service. For more information about the CCO, visit www.ukcco.org.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Bennett or Rebecca Stratton, katy.bennett@uky.edu or rebecca.stratton@uky.edu, 859-257-1909/859-323-2395