Since 2015, StevensTHON has been attempting to bring campus together to raise money for kids of Children’s Specialized Hospital. Since its founding, StevensTHON has raised over $50,000 and has received numerous awards, most recently “Best New Dance Marathon of 2017.”
The most important goal of StevensTHON is to do everything that is possible to benefit the kids of the Children’s Specialized Hospital. “Everything we do, year round, is for them,” said Nicole Maetta, Executive Director for StevensTHON. The children in the Specialized Hospital, unfortunately, are not able to experience the comfort of their own homes, and StevensTHON wants to allow the kids to have a childhood.
Organizations like StevensTHON are really important to children’s hospitals. Maetta commented, “Children’s hospitals run on donations, and much of the rehabilitation equipment they require for treatment is obtained through funds raised by organizations like StevensTHON.” StevensTHON is a student run, year round, philanthropic movement which raises money specifically for the New Jersey Children’s Specialized Hospital. The students involved work to both raise money and awareness for the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Outside of the movement, other organizations have also shown their support. StevensTHON has partnered with multiple student organizations on campus, including the Indian Undergraduate Association, C2GS, Transfer Student Association, Torch Alliance, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Stevens Health Professionals Club, and many of the Greek organizations. These organization co-sponsored events together throughout the year. StevensTHON invites and encourages all organizations to create fundraising pages on their websites and join the movement.
If students want to get involved, Maetta says that outside of their organizations, they can start by visiting www.stevensTHON.com. Students can make their own fundraising pages and then share them with their friends. Students can also join the mailing list to be up to date with weekly events such as canning, general body meetings, and other events.
The first Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon was held in 1991 at the University of Indiana in honor of Ryan White. StevensTHON is “…proud to be a part of the Miracle Network Dance Marathon movement” which is a community spanning over 250 schools nationwide, all in support of their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
On Saturday, April 27, StevensTHON will be celebrating its own efforts with a twelve-hour dance marathon, where the total amount of money raised for the year will be announced. Maetta describes, “StevensTHON’s Dance Marathon [as] truly an experience like no other. For 12 hours, we stand and dance in honor of the kids being treated at Children’s Specialized Hospital.” Some of the kids from the hospital and their families will be attending and sharing their stories, as well as showing how much of a difference hospital treatments can make. Those who raise a minimum of $62 (the number represents the 62 kids who enter a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital each minute) on their fundraising page will receive a free shirt. There will also be various events through the night, such as raffles and performances from student organizations, as well as a variety of food from Hoboken vendors.
StevensTHON will be holding the Dance Marathon, on Friday, April 27 in Bissinger from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
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