The first Dance Marathon was organized by Indiana University in 1991 in memory of Ryan White, a fellow student, and was in fact the first event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Following Indiana’s example, Bowling Green State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Florida, and Florida State University joining the movement, and the modern day Dance Marathon was born. Dance Marathons have become a tradition on campus and in communities, with each event being entirely student run and 100% of proceeds going towards their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. To date, college Dance Marathons have raised over $62 Million to benefit CMN hospitals.
Today, Dance Marathon is a part of over 250 colleges and high schools around the country. At every campus, Dance Marathon grows each and every year.
Here at FAU, OwlThon began in March of 2014. In its first year, OwlThon raised $6,000.
Total Amount Fundraised Throughout the Years:
- 2014 – $6,000
- 2015 – $66,000+
- 2016 – $188,000+
- 2017 – $242,000
- 2018 – $244, 654.90
- 2019 – $247,870.42
- 2020 (Marathon cancelled due to COVID-19) – $119,193.28
- 2021 – $105,475.83
- 2022 – $107,858.17
owlthonatfau.org 