Surprises planned for Dance Marathon’s golden anniversary

• Link to: Northwestern Now Story

Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) announces Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI) as the primary beneficiary for 2024. RMHC-CNI is a nonprofit organization that houses and supports families with children in need of critical medical care. Ronald McDonald House provides families with a “home away from home,” enabling them to stay close to their child while accessing high-quality medical care. 

Ronald McDonald House is a nonprofit organization that houses and supports families with children in need of critical medical care, providing families with a “home away from home” and enabling them to stay close to their child while accessing high-quality medical care. 

“NUDM could not be more excited to be partnering with Ronald McDonald House for the 50th year of this historic event,” said Grace Dyer, executive director of Dance Marathon. “I see so much potential in this year, through both our partnership with RMHC-CNI and the unique opportunity to celebrate 50 years of NUDM. We already have some exciting changes in the works for this anniversary, so stay tuned, because 50 is going to be a big year for NUDM.”  

“On behalf of the children and families we serve, we are grateful for being selected as the beneficiary for the 2024 Northwestern University Dance Marathon,” said Holly Buckendahl, chief executive officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. “The money raised through the Dance Marathon will directly fund our in-hospital programs and will enable us to increase healthcare access, service delivery, and family touch points by more than 10,000, providing thousands of meals and snacks for families as they support their child’s medical journey.” 

“This support brings a small sense of home, a sense of normal to the extraordinary circumstances our families face,” said Megan Kuehl, director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, RMHC-CNI. “We believe when a child is sick, a family is sick. The support from NUDM will enable more families to get better together.” 

About Northwestern University Dance Marathon 

Now in its 50th year, NUDM brings together hundreds of students to dance for 30 hours while raising money for area non-profits. NUDM is one of the largest independent student-run philanthropies in the country. Since 1975, NUDM has raised $23 million for more than 30 different charities.  

Northwestern University Dance Marathon is scheduled for the Spring Quarter of 2024 on the Evanston campus. To learn more, visit www.nudm.org.  

We The Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) will serve as NUDM’s long-term beneficiary for its 27th consecutive year. ECF ensures that Evanston thrives by funding local grants to deserving individuals, families and organizations. 

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI) 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana exists so families can get better together. Each night, 172 families are kept close to the care and resources they need through six area Ronald McDonald Houses and three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. Enabling families to stay close to their hospitalized child supports the health and well-being of the child and saves families over $9 million in hotel and food costs each year. Locations are near Advocate Children's Hospital, Loyola University Medical Center, UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital, Edward Hospital in Naperville and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. The Charity also operates the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program, providing medical care to children in underserved areas. RMHC-CNI is an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is an approved BBB Accredited Business, a recipient of Guidestar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency and a recipient of Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating. 

For more information visit ronaldhousechicago.org.