Year 30 in Review

Throughout the year, the DMFSU family continued to show up, give it their all, and fight to change pediatric healthcare in new, never-before-seen ways. With new events, crushing historical fundraising numbers, and even concluding the year with Dance Marathon at FSU being awarded the Mary B. Coburn Student Organization of the Year Award, we are so grateful and so proud of all this organization does. 

We kicked off Year 30 with our Champions for Change summer fundraising campaign that took place from July 11th to August 15th. In honor of the Summer Olympics, this fundraising push celebrated the strength and resilience of our Miracle Families, the core and heart of this organization. This campaign engaged our community, regardless of how far apart we were in the summer. We connected with challenge cards and weekly fundraising opportunities as we looked at what the rest of the year had to offer.

At the start of the fall semester, DMFSU gathered on Landis Green for our Back to School Bash, our first event all back together. Students from FSU met each of our amazing teams, learned about how to get involved in our incredible organization, and enjoyed pizza and more from our generous sponsors. This was a great way to kick off Year 30 back in person!

October brought even more excitement with the launch of our first “Harvest Hustle 5K.” On October 6th, participants took in the views from our beautiful campus during either a one-mile or 5K course. During this same week, we introduced Midfield Miracles, a fall fundraising push running from October 5th to the 10th. This week not only included our Harvest Hustle 5K but was packed with programming and new engagement opportunities that brought the community together to continue fundraising and spreading awareness. This was also the first fundraising event with our new Year 30 internal team, as we filled our captain and INL (Inspiring New Leaders) positions! 

Then came our biggest fall fundraiser event, Florida Statement, our 10th annual statement,  with this year’s theme being “Every Step of the Way.” This 26.2-hour event celebrated the critical role of pediatric care and research in improving children's lives. Through continuous programming, Miracle stories, and interactive activities, participants were reminded of their “Why DM,”  and why we do what we do. This past statement, we were proud to announce we raised $323,503.96.

To close out the fall semester, we hosted Miracles Happen, our winter fundraising campaign from November 27th to December 6th. It was a powerful reminder amidst the season of giving, that miracles are possible when we all come together for a common cause greater than ourselves. 

In the spring semester, we launched the new year with Miles for Miracles, a campus-wide 5K and 1-mile option run designed to unite students and kick off the new year with a purpose. Whether aiming to run a personal best or simply show up for the miracle families, participants came together to move for miracles, and every step made a difference. 

Our final major fundraising campaign and annual spring push, Leave Your Legacy, made history. Raising an incredible $129,044.71, this campaign honored the lasting impact that each participant makes on our cause. Every cent of that total supports our beneficiaries and reflects the heart and soul of our movement. Year 30’s Leave Your Legacy wasn’t just a slogan—it was a powerful call to action and our final chance to fundraise before the main event! 

From summer to spring, from our first challenge card to the final reveal at the main event, Year 30 was filled with passion, progress, and purpose. Thank you for being a part of this historic year. Thank you for fighting for the kids. And thank you for a better tomorrow. 

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Written by: Ashlynd Sellers