Our Story

History of Dance Marathon at Hope

The first annual Dance Marathon at Hope College was in 2000. In the inaugural year, a school of Hope’s size was expected to raise only $4,800. But, as a result of hard work and dedication, the Marathon brought in over $23,000 in donations for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. In the years that followed, the program has evolved to include numerous fundraising and awareness-building activities like the Annual 5k for the Kids, the Miracle Silent Auction and the Christmas holiday party for Miracle Families. Student participation in the event has grown over the years, too. Currently, more than 1,000 Hope students contribute to Dance Marathon as dancers, moralers and committee members.

Dance Marathon Year by Year

Year	Director	Theme	Amount Raised
1999–2000	Anne Schrock	Giving HOPE to Kids	$23,328.00
2000–2001	Beth Otto Stapleton	Make Your Move for the Kids	$37,219.54
2001–2002	Beth Otto Stapleton	Your Sacrifice Today…	$50,425.87
2002–2003	Kelly Cleland	Giving Yer All for the Kids	$67,638.30
2003–2004	Layne Shoaf Fuller	Cruisin' for Kids	$88,284.24
2004–2005	Megan Niergarth	Keeping Hope Afloat	$103,012.08
2005–2006	Amie Ecker	Goin' Outta This World	$112,670.89
2006–2007	Tara Vandestreek	Circling the Wagons of Hope	$116,073.98
2007–2008	Mallory Golas/Courtney Vredevoogd	Going Wild for the Kids	$120,878.62
2008–2009	Carolyn Courtade	Settin' Sail with the Kids	$60,715.25
2009–2010	Sarah Patton/Lindsay Ter Haar	Going for the Gold	$50,312.23
2010–2011	Michael Dirksen/Kevin Watson	Clowning Around for the Kids	$80,596.31
2011–2012	Michael Dirksen/Ryan Tussey	Dreaming Big with the Kids	$92,444.32
2012–2013	Alli Springett, Jamie Sloan, Dylan DeLapa	Keeping Beat with the Kids	$139,041.43
2013–2014	Betsy Blanchette, Dylan DeLapa, MacKenzie Brady	For the Heroes	$165,057.08
2014–2015	Connor Brady, Erica Porzondek, Betsy Blanchette, Andrea Matthew	Lights, Camera, Kids!	$182,187.30
2015–2016	Kierstynn Foster, Chelsea Chase, Danae Frost, Kelley McKeon	FTK and Beyond!	$256,323.13
2016–2017	Duncan Bocks, Garrett Sims, Emily Cook, Ellie Brady	Fighting for Fairytales	$275,574.18
2017–2018	Connor Gentry, Caitie Kieser, Erin Murphy, Anthony Nguyen	Making Waves for the Kids	$311,442.19
2018–2019	Morgan Dalman, Taylor LaBarge, Hailey Mulder, Tyler Trisch	Born to Dance	$340,172.20
2019–2020	Anna Brady, Ben Boudreau, Cassidy Merten, Sydney Tressler	Making S'more Miracles	$370,671.21
2020–2021	Maria Gomez, Katie Newcomer, Timbree Pederson, Mikaelah Snoap	Pave the Way FTK	$292,851.22
2021–2022	Madeline Puckett, Isabel Snoap, Rylee Thayer, Maddy Williams	Kids Can't Wait!	$350,428.23
2022–2023	Abi Gift, Leah VanOrman, and Nate Koorndyk	Every Kid. Every Day.	$384,336.00
2023–2024	Morgan Paul, Aine Snoap, Nick Dawson	Kids Shine Brighter	$364,616.25
2024–2025	Amanda Timonen, Isabelle VanAntwerpen, Grace Hammers, Elsie Craig	One Piece at a Time

Children’s Miracle Network

Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 children’s hospitals throughout North America. Each year, these non-profit hospitals treat 17 million children with diseases, injuries and birth defects of every kind. Children’s Miracle Network hospitals treat all children regardless of affliction or the family’s ability to pay.

Helen Devos Children’s Hospital

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital, is the only hospital in Western Michigan dedicated to providing comprehensive care to children. It serves as a referral center for newborns, infants, children and adolescents from 37 counties. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital provides medical care that is generally not available at community hospitals. It is a special resource for local health care centers and hometown physicians. It receives no direct state aid and depends upon private support to expand health care programs and services. Several essential programs at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital rely on philanthropy to remain available for the children and families. Some of these programs include:

• Center for Child Protection
• Congenital Heart Center
• Child Life Services
• Kidney Dialysis and Transplants
• Childhood Cancer
• Neonatal Intensive Care

With the money Dance Marathon raises throughout the year, we help provide necessities to the children, families, doctors and nurses at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital. Here are some examples of where our donations go:

• $2 – One Preemie Pacifier: Created specifically for the tiniest babies and are used to soothe and comfort them.
• $5 – Writing Journals: Given to teens so they can journal about their feelings, thoughts, experiences, etc. 
• $10 – Meal Vouchers: These allow patients and families to get food or snacks at the hospital cafeterias during their visit.
• $12 – Cooler Bag: Bags are needed for NICU parents to help transport breast milk to and from the hospital.
• $15 – NICU Graduation: Celebratory book, toy or blanket and gift box to celebrate babies who are graduating (leaving) the NICU.
• $20 – NICU Parent Craft Night: Helps parents preserve photos and memories during their NICU stay. Craft night items can include photo albums, onesies, scrapbook paper, etc. Average of 90 parents a week. Costs $1,800/week.
• $25 – Bravery Beads: With each treatment, procedure or milestone, patients are given a new bead for their string. Each bead represents a different part in their journey to wellness.
• $40 – Gas Cards: Covers a full tank of gas — many patients and families have to travel from a distance for treatment at HDVCH.
• $50 – PORT Care Bags: When a family is told their child has cancer, they are told to immediately go to HDVCH, don’t even stop home. This bag is filled with a variety of personal care items, snacks and a handmade quilt. Given to all families with a new cancer diagnosis.
• $75 – Car Seats: Provided through our Safe Kids Program for families in need.
• $175 – Advanced Portable Breast Pump: Given to moms who are breastfeeding and have a baby in the NICU.
• $500 – Project Dream Room: When a child is having a bone marrow transplant, they can’t leave their room until their immune system is no longer compromised (30+ days). PORT will decorate their room before they are admitted making it feel more like home. Decorations can include bedding, decals, lamps, and other fun accessories. They get to keep all of the items & take them home when discharged.