Redevelopment of Norris University Center’s East Lawn to begin this summer
April 5, 2024
Children’s Home and Aid, a leading child and family service agency in Illinois serving more than 40,000 children, youth and families across the state each year, will be the primary beneficiary for Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) in 2020.
NUDM will support the agency’s Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Child and Family Center located in Evanston. The location provides intensive therapeutic treatment to youth ages 6 to 15 who are in foster care and suffer from severe emotional, behavioral or mental health issues resulting from trauma.
“This year, we wanted to take Dance Marathon in a new direction,” said Rachel Cantor, one of the NUDM 2020 executive co-chairs. “Dance Marathon has never selected a primary beneficiary that provides support and resources to children in foster care who have experienced abuse and neglect. Every child deserves a home, and I’m excited to both help fund the therapy, counseling and mentoring programs Children’s Home and Aid provides as well as discuss a topic that NUDM has never really touched upon before.”
Each year, many deserving charities submit applications to be NUDM’s primary beneficiary. The NUDM executive co-chairs narrow this list and present it to the executive board. The board conducts several rounds of interviews, keeping the needs of both Northwestern and the beneficiary in mind. The review process includes lengthy deliberation and additional interviews, until a primary beneficiary is chosen unanimously by the entire executive board.
Evanston Community Foundation will serve as NUDM’s secondary beneficiary for the 23rd consecutive year. The nonprofit gives local grants and provides leadership training with the goal of helping Evanston thrive as a just, vibrant and inclusive community.
Founded in 1883, Children’s Home and Aid partners with children, youth and families whose potential is at risk to create hope, opportunity and bright futures. The agency is one of the largest providers of child welfare services in Illinois, currently working with 1,000 children in foster care. Children’s Home and Aid has been recognized for establishing best practices and achieving outstanding results among child welfare providers and is a founding member of the Children’s Home Society of America.
NUDM’s financial donations will help fund the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Child and Family Center, whose highly trained staff implements expressive therapy, counseling and mentoring programs for more than 60 children annually to help them heal from trauma and return to a nurturing and stable permanent home.
In addition to funding the Center’s initiatives, NUDM is excited for the service opportunities Children’s Home and Aid has to offer. Northwestern students will have the opportunity to participate in on-campus service events, such as hosting trick-or-treating during Halloween at Norris University Center, as well as assisting with off-campus events such as mural painting to decorate the foster center.
“I’m so excited for NUDM’s partnership with Children’s Home and Aid,” said Eliana Scobey, NUDM 2020 executive co-chair. “Given the Rice Center’s location in Evanston, we can’t wait to see the Northwestern students build an especially close relationship with the beneficiary and grow their love for our surrounding community. We are looking forward to working with Rice’s passionate staff as well as the Northwestern and NUDM communities to help this incredible organization foster change.”
NUDM 2020 will be held March 6 to 8, 2020 on the Norris University Center East Lawn, 1999 Campus Drive on Northwestern’s Evanston campus.
About Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Child and Family Center:
The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Child and Family Center in Evanston, Illinois is part of Children’s Home and Aid, a leading child and family service agency in Illinois, serving nearly 40,000 children and families each year in more than 60 counties to create hope, opportunities and bright futures. To learn more, visit the Children's Home and Aid website.
About Northwestern University Dance Marathon:
In its 46th year, NUDM is one of the largest entirely student-run philanthropies in the nation. Since 1975, NUDM has raised more than $20 million for more than 30 charities. Last year, NUDM raised more than $1 million dollars for its ninth consecutive year in support of Communities in Schools of Chicago -- the Chicago base of a national network of educational support centers, which connects students to the mentors and resources they need to graduate and succeed. To learn more, visit the Dance Marathon website.
