MC Dance Marathon helps support Mississippi’s only Children’s Hospital

DJ Ambrose keeps the beat pumping during MC Dance Marathon, which has raised more than half a million dollars for Children's of Mississippi.

Throughout the academic year, members of MC’s clubs and tribes and various student organizations host a variety of fundraising activities to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including Children’s of Mississippi in Jackson.

This extensive philanthropic effort culminates in a fun-filled night of continuous dancing and fundraising during the annual MC Dance Marathon, a “come-and-go” event scheduled from 6 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, April 16, in the A.E. Wood Coliseum on the Clinton campus.

Sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement, MC Dance Marathon includes visits from Children’s Hospital patients and a “tote board” reveal of the total amount collected from MC students’ yearlong fundraising activities. Event proceeds help Children’s of Mississippi create a more comfortable environment for pediatric patients and their families at the state’s only children’s hospital. Since its inception in 2016, MC Dance Marathon has raised more than half a million dollars for Mississippi’s children.

Jonathan Ambrose, MC vice president for student experience and dean of students, said supporting Children’s of Mississippi through MC Dance Marathon is a vital way for the MC community to live out its mission of service.

“As the state's only Children’s Hospital, they provide essential care for families in our own backyard, and it is a privilege for our students to support them in a fun but meaningful way,” Ambrose said. “Beyond the fundraising, this event fosters selfless leadership and perspective in our students. I am most looking forward to seeing the campus come together with the 'Miracle Families' to celebrate the tangible impact our collective efforts have on these children’s lives.”

Ambrose created a Freshman Leadership Initiative Program (FLIP) to help develop leadership skills and service awareness among students at MC. As a result, servant leaders like Molly Hae Haindel and Rhyser Guynes continue to contribute to philanthropic events like Dance Marathon throughout their collegiate careers.

Haindel joined the Dance Marathon Committee during her freshman year at MC. Now, she serves as the event’s director of fundraising. She calls her involvement in the organization “one of the most life-changing experiences” of her academic career.

“I learned what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Haindel, a sophomore elementary education major from Madison. “What appeals to me most about this philanthropic organization is the dedication and heart for others that goes into it. No matter the dollar amount raised, we make a real impact on Children’s of Mississippi.

“To witness the smiles on patients’ faces – as well as their families’ – makes all the late-night coin counting sessions, early morning meetings and event-day planning sessions worthwhile.”

Guynes, who serves as communications director for MC Dance Marathon, understands what the event can mean for Children’s of Mississippi patients: a member of his family was impacted by the care provided by Children’s Hospital staff.

“Giving back to a cause that means so much to people I hold so dear is a no-brainer,” the sophomore Christian Studies major from Crystal Springs said. “People love to dance and have a good time with their friends, and people seek to imitate Christ. They have an opportunity to do both at Dance Marathon.

“Families will be there with their children who have been cared for and loved by hospital staff. It’s crucial to remember that everything we are doing to support Dance Marathon is about them. The lights and dancing are fun, but the children are the heart and soul of what we do.”

For more information or to donate to MC Dance Marathon, visit mc.edu/students/policies/events-activities/dance-marathon.