To our DanceBlue Community,
Thank you!
This semester of fundraising for DanceBlue has been a blast! Our DanceBlue teams and committee members have dedicated themselves to raising money for the kids in the DanceBlue Clinic, and they have tackled every fundraising opportunity with passion and excitement. Here is a look back on some of the amazing fundraising events we have had this semester:
DanceBlue hosted fundraisers this semester with several businesses in Lexington, including Moe’s Southwest Grill, Magee’s Baking Company, Kendra Scott, John’s Run/Walk Shop, A Cup of Common Wealth and Bear and the Butcher. Each of these businesses donated a portion of the day’s (or week’s) sales to DanceBlue. We saw strong show outs from students and community members alike at all of these events!
For the first time, DanceBlue hosted a fundraising event at Greyline Station this fall. Seven businesses, including Rise Up Pizza, Forage Plants, Old North, Poppy & Pomelo, Nourished Folks, North Lime Coffee & Donuts and Vintage Therapy, participated in the fundraiser and donated a portion of the day’s sales to DanceBlue. At the event, DanceBlue set up a booth to share DanceBlue’s mission with the community.
For the first time in two years, DanceBlue brought back a month-long fundraising campaign: No Shave November. Several staff members at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, as well as three students who serve on DanceBlue committee, pledged to shave their heads if DanceBlue raised $25,000 in the month of November. By shaving their heads, these staff members and students would show solidarity with the kids in the DanceBlue who sometimes lose their hair when undergoing cancer treatment.
At the end of November, DanceBlue far exceeded its goal. Not including corporate donations or money raised from mini marathons, DanceBlue raised $36,699.16 in one month! The No Shave November celebration took place on November 30 and was a huge success. The reveal of $36,699.19, as well as the head shaving, was live streamed to the public so everyone could experience the joy and fun that characterized this month of fundraising.
To round out our fall semester of fundraising, DanceBlue also took part in Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement. Our organization encouraged people to donate to DanceBlue in honor of Giving Tuesday. Students also posted graphics on their social media accounts that directed people to their teams’ Network For Good links, which is where people can ornate to DanceBlue online.
This year, DanceBlue teams and committee members also participated in DanceBlue’s annual letter drive. Danceblue mailed out over 1,400 letters all around the nation to spread awareness of DanceBlue’s mission and encourage people to donate online or mail back a cash or check. The letter drive is receiving several responses from this fundraiser already!
Thank you to everyone in our DanceBlue Community who has made this semester of fundraising such a success. It has been filled with wonderful memories, but it is only the beginning. Our students and committee members work hard year-round to raise money for the kids and share why DanceBlue is so important. We are super excited for the upcoming semester of fundraising, as well as the annual 24-hour dance marathon that will celebrate this year’s fundraising efforts. Stay on the lookout for how you can support DanceBlue by donating, volunteering and more!
If you have any questions about donating or how you can get involved with DanceBlue, please feel free to reach out to me, Riley Fort, Fundraising Chair, at [email protected]
