Florida Statement 2026: A Greater Tomorrow Starts Today!

Dance Marathon at FSU is thrilled to announce the theme for our 12th annual Florida Statement: A Greater Tomorrow Starts Today! After the success of our 11th annual Statement, we are eager to kick off Florida Statement 2026 and celebrate the community that makes it so special. Florida Statement gives students the opportunity to fund programs that make a difference in children's lives today and in the future. It marks the start of the year's biggest fall fundraising event: 26.2 hours of the DM community at FSU uniting around a shared goal of raising money and awareness for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the FSU College of Medicine Pediatric Outreach Program.

Since 2016, Florida Statement has become one of the largest fundraising events of the year and the backbone of the organization's year-long campaign. Statement is an inspiring two-day event taking place on November 4th and 5th, with this year's theme being A Greater Tomorrow Starts Today! This reminds us that the support we contribute today doesn't just make an impact in the present, but also goes toward research and advancements that will improve the future of children's healthcare. These children are the future, and by fundraising for research and supporting babies starting life in the NICU, Dance Marathon at FSU is proud to help create a healthier future for children and families.

Events kick off November 4th on the second floor of the Student Services Building from 9:30 AM–3:30 PM, with six hours of crafts, games, and a hot dog-eating contest you won't want to miss! During this time, participants can learn more about our Miracle Families and fundraising to better understand the impact they can have during Statement. At 2:00 PM, POWER HOUR begins, and students can join our Morale Team for one of the most impactful moments of the event: seeing just how much students can raise in one hour! This is such an important time because participants can take a moment to appreciate the work they are doing. Once 5:30 PM hits, it is time to go on tour! Gong on Tour is one of Statement's most anticipated events, where members bring the gong to different chapter facilities and members of the external community get the chance to hit the iconic DMFSU gong. After 30 minutes packed with laughs and excitement, the tour comes to an end at 6:00 PM. Everyone will then rally around the heartbeat of this organization by highlighting our Comma Club participants who have raised over $1,000! After the ceremony, from 7:30–10:30 PM, we invite everyone to join us at Bowden's for our Share It event to hear from one of our ambassadors and enjoy great music, food, and company.

Day 2 of Statement starts off strong on November 5th at 8:00 AM at the Union Green, where we get to hear Caden's story, shared by Sydney Vinson, our Family Relations Chair, as a reminder of why we do what we do at DM. Following this, we will be handing out red ribbons and kicking off a celebration for Caden on Landis. During this time, we also encourage everyone to take part in our Share It event at Patchwork Coffee from 8:00–11:00 AM to enjoy some spectacular coffee and show support during Statement. We will also have line dancing, which is a fun opportunity to hear from some of our Miracle Families and see some impressive dancing!

Starting at 10:27 AM, in honor of Unit 45 opening at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, we will kick off Make Your Statement! For the final 45 minutes of Statement, our community will come together for one last fundraising push before the event comes to a close at 11:12 AM. Afterwards, we will have our final Comma Club ceremony to highlight the members who were able to raise over $1,000 this year. Following Comma Club at noon, we will have our 2026 Statement Total Reveal in front of Wescott. We can't wait to see what our community has accomplished!

DM at FSU cannot wait for this year's Statement: A Greater Tomorrow Starts Today! The money and awareness we raise during Statement don't simply impact children and families today; they also contribute to research and advancements that will change the lives of countless others in the future. Every contribution helps us move closer to a healthier tomorrow, and we are so excited to see what our community can accomplish together during Year 32!