After a successful year of exceeding their fundraising goal, Knight-Thon is back again with a new theme and goal set for their annual dance marathon in support of Greater Orlando Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Knight-Thon will be held April 2, 2016 with a new goal of $820,000 and theme, ‘We Are Knight-Thon’.
“We really wanted to focus on 20 years so we knew we wanted to incorporate that to our goal and our biggest thing was sustainability. It’s a 20 percent increase from last year,” said Knight-Thon executive director Nicole Ramirez. “We wanted to really unite this campus and unify everyone and that’s how we came up with ‘We Are Knight-thon.”
Last year’s goal of $500,000 was surpassed with a record breaking $688,049.19 raised. Knight-Thon became the number 7 Miracle Network Dance Marathon in the nation with the help of over 2,000 students who helped increase fundraising by percent.
Throughout the year, there is a lot of participation from students across campus but Ramirez said the Knight-Thon team hopes to go beyond that.
“It’ll be a huge growth year for us in terms of alumni in our community engagement. We’ve got a lot of involvement on campus but really are trying to expand that to Orlando so alumni and community will be huge for us this year,” said Knight-Thon executive director, Nicole Ramirez.
During Knight-Thon, the largest student run philanthropy, students and multiple school organizations will stand for 20 hours to fundraise for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and spread awareness “For the Kids” (FTK). Many students have already started fundraising efforts such as bucketing through campus, posting on Facebook and sending emails.
“I hope to raise $300 myself because I know it’s a really good organization and the best part about is that all the money UCF raises goes toward local miracle network hospital,” said 20-year-old marketing major, Kaitlynn Rose.
Students who wish to donate, support or register as a dancer can do so through here.
Find out the latest Knight-Thon news through their Twitter and Facebook!