Dance marathon raises $700
Laura Fitzgerald
Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: News
DePaul students filled Lion Head Pub and the Apartment on Lincoln Ave. on Jan. 21? to shake their money makers, collecting donations for earthquake damage in Haiti. Along with KOMP (Kids of Malawi Project), the two bars helped promote a dance marathon organized primarily by seniors Jared Benedetto and Casey Fictum.
Benedetto and Fictum came up with the plan for a dance marathon after the pictures and devastating stories of the damage in Haiti began circulating.
"We love to dance, meet new people, and have a great time with our friends, so we decided to do what we do every Thursday-but this time raise a little money," Benedetto said.
As President of KOMP, an organization that raises money for children in Malawi, Fictum thought that the dance marathon would be a good promotional event for the group.
"We all saw the tragic pictures from the earthquake in Haiti and I couldn't help but think to myself, there has to be something we can do,'" Fictum said. "No matter the mass of our contribution, we could at least try to help."
Fictum said the KOMP group found an unofficial sponsor to match any money made at the marathon. He said that the money raised was deposited into a bank and donated to Red Cross, who will decide how to use the funds.
"I can't say the name of the company because, officially, they are not a sponsor of the event, but they are matching the amount of money we raise," Fictum said.
The night began in Lion Head Pub around 10 p.m., allowing people to file in and make a donation before heading upstairs to the Apartment to begin the dance marathon.
"The donation boxes were set up for people to freely donate whenever they wanted to. I thought that was awesome to see so many people that cared enough to come out and give to the cause," Fictum said. "Nobody was obligated to donate. Whether or not everyone gave a donation, the fact that they all came out and added to the atmosphere was great support."
Benedetto and Fictum came up with the plan for a dance marathon after the pictures and devastating stories of the damage in Haiti began circulating.
"We love to dance, meet new people, and have a great time with our friends, so we decided to do what we do every Thursday-but this time raise a little money," Benedetto said.
As President of KOMP, an organization that raises money for children in Malawi, Fictum thought that the dance marathon would be a good promotional event for the group.
"We all saw the tragic pictures from the earthquake in Haiti and I couldn't help but think to myself, there has to be something we can do,'" Fictum said. "No matter the mass of our contribution, we could at least try to help."
Fictum said the KOMP group found an unofficial sponsor to match any money made at the marathon. He said that the money raised was deposited into a bank and donated to Red Cross, who will decide how to use the funds.
"I can't say the name of the company because, officially, they are not a sponsor of the event, but they are matching the amount of money we raise," Fictum said.
The night began in Lion Head Pub around 10 p.m., allowing people to file in and make a donation before heading upstairs to the Apartment to begin the dance marathon.
"The donation boxes were set up for people to freely donate whenever they wanted to. I thought that was awesome to see so many people that cared enough to come out and give to the cause," Fictum said. "Nobody was obligated to donate. Whether or not everyone gave a donation, the fact that they all came out and added to the atmosphere was great support."
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