Little Heroes League named Dance Marathon 2023 primary beneficiary

• Link to: Northwestern Now Story

EVANSTON, Ill. –– Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) announced Little Heroes League will be the primary beneficiary for 2023. Little Heroes League is a nonprofit organization that provides care coordination services to the most medically complex babies born in Chicagoland, helping the babies and their families thrive.

“Given the current healthcare system, it is very difficult for families to be able to afford quality care, even for those who do have health insurance,” said Amy Fan, an executive co-chair of NUDM 2023. “Little Heroes League ensures that these families are supported in having care coordination services, which is why NUDM is so proud to partner with them.”

“We are so thrilled about this, and it will ensure that we are going to maintain this program for years to come,” said Little Heroes League Executive Director Brenden Etue. “We’re always looking for ways to expose this gap in care coordination services to more people, so that they understand why the service is needed and why our philanthropy makes sure that these kids and their families achieve their best lives.”

Reaching more families, bettering lives

NUDM’s financial donations will help Little Heroes League further develop and expand their services to more families across the Chicagoland area and beyond. The NUDM grant will directly go towards funding an additional care coordinator for Little Heroes League, who will be able to serve up to 30 new babies per year.

Little Heroes League works to provide care coordination to underserved families with extensive medical expenses. About 90% of Little Hero families are on Medicaid, and therefore, significantly benefit from the free and high-quality care services.

About Northwestern University Dance Marathon

NUDM 2023 returns for the 49th year March 3-5 on the Norris University Center East Lawn at 1999 Campus Drive on Northwestern’s Evanston campus. NUDM is one of the largest independent student-run philanthropies in the country, raising over $23 million for more than 30 different charities. Last year, in its first in-person event since the start of the pandemic, NUDM raised over half a million dollars in support of Chicago Youth Programs, a nonprofit organization striving to improve the life opportunities and health of youth in low-income neighborhoods, primarily on the south and west sides of Chicago, through long-term academic, emotional and mental support.

The Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) will serve as NUDM’s secondary beneficiary for its 26th consecutive year. ECF ensures that Evanston thrives by funding local grants to deserving individuals, families and organizations.