When Did Dance Marathon
Begin?
In District 219, Dance Marathon officially begun in 2003, when a group of students collectively gathered to create a philanthropic organization at both high schools. In the first year, they selected the charity of "Children's Miracle Network" and were able to raise over $8,000. Even though the organization was in its beginning stages, the group of students were able to successfully raise awareness for this beneficiary and donate a significant amount of money.
With more students becoming interested with service work and volunteer opportunities as years go on, Dance Marathon has grown to become District 219's School Chest. This basically means that the high schools and the community will partner together to not only raise money for the charity, but will also educate and provide awareness of the charity.
Every year more awareness has been raised for the selected charity through increasing the number of dancers drastically. The amount of money raised for the charity has also increased each year. In total the District 219 Dance Marathon Organization has been able to raise almost $1,000,000 from 2003-2018.
Down below is the list of our selected beneficiaries from the past.
With more students becoming interested with service work and volunteer opportunities as years go on, Dance Marathon has grown to become District 219's School Chest. This basically means that the high schools and the community will partner together to not only raise money for the charity, but will also educate and provide awareness of the charity.
Every year more awareness has been raised for the selected charity through increasing the number of dancers drastically. The amount of money raised for the charity has also increased each year. In total the District 219 Dance Marathon Organization has been able to raise almost $1,000,000 from 2003-2018.
Down below is the list of our selected beneficiaries from the past.
2023: The Harbour inc
The Harbour is a community of support dedicated to providing emergency shelter and services to youth and single mothers who are experiencing homelessness. They promote encouraging environments that empower young people to be self-sufficient.
Learn More Here |
2022: GirlFowardDistrict 219 Contribution: $45,025.16
GirlFoward's mission is to provide support for girls who have been displaced globally by conflict and persecution. They create and enhance opportunities for girls who are refugees and foster a kind community that is welcoming. Learn More Here |
2021: I Grow ChicagoDistrict 219 Contribution: $44,018.63
I Grow Chicago's mission is to grow Englewood from surviving to thriving through community connection, skill building, and opportunity. Learn More Here |
2020: Apna Ghar |
Apna Ghar's mission is provide holistic services and conduct outreach and advocacy across immigrant communities to end gender violence.
Apna Ghar is a human rights organization working to end gender violence with an evidence-based model that factors in macro and micro level conditions that create the unique barriers that our program participants face. 2020 marks 30 years of realizing gender justice at Apna Ghar. Since 1990 we have reached more than 100,000 survivors and community members across the region. Learn More Here 2019: Curt's Cafe |

District 219 Contribution: $77,255.88
Curt's Cafe improves outcomes for young adults living in at-risk situations through work and life skills training.
Young adults all identify one essential thing that would help them turn their lives around: a job. At Curt’s we provide that opportunity by teaching marketable skills and then assisting in securing employment. We teach culinary techniques but also provide instruction they will need to fill in educational gaps, gain confidence, and become job-ready.
Learn More Here
Curt's Cafe improves outcomes for young adults living in at-risk situations through work and life skills training.
Young adults all identify one essential thing that would help them turn their lives around: a job. At Curt’s we provide that opportunity by teaching marketable skills and then assisting in securing employment. We teach culinary techniques but also provide instruction they will need to fill in educational gaps, gain confidence, and become job-ready.
Learn More Here
2018: A Better Life for Kids

District 219 Contribution: $80,823.38
A Better Life for Kids is a non-profit organization founded to provide opportunities and to invest in the futures of children in need. We strive to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of needy children in Ghana by:
Providing assistance to orphanages in Ghana by purchasing food, medicine, and other essential supplies and equipment for the babies and children living there.
Funding education opportunities for orphans and children from families unable to afford the relatively small school fees. These funds provide children the opportunity to attend school by paying for their tuition fees, school uniforms, shoes, necessary school supplies, and lunch each school day.
Providing leadership development training, tutoring, and mentoring opportunities for children.
Fostering meaningful relationships to increase understanding and unity among people of different cultures.
Learn More Here
A Better Life for Kids is a non-profit organization founded to provide opportunities and to invest in the futures of children in need. We strive to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of needy children in Ghana by:
Providing assistance to orphanages in Ghana by purchasing food, medicine, and other essential supplies and equipment for the babies and children living there.
Funding education opportunities for orphans and children from families unable to afford the relatively small school fees. These funds provide children the opportunity to attend school by paying for their tuition fees, school uniforms, shoes, necessary school supplies, and lunch each school day.
Providing leadership development training, tutoring, and mentoring opportunities for children.
Fostering meaningful relationships to increase understanding and unity among people of different cultures.
Learn More Here
2017: Hope Junior

District 219 Contribution: $81,480.12
What started as a spin-off from Project Hope focusing on pregnancy prevention, serving only girls, has blossomed into multi-faceted, year-round, extra-curricular initiative that has helped shaped the lives of thousands of children and teens over the last 30 years. Hope Junior offers children and teens high-quality after-school program activities and opportunities during non-school hours. The goal of Hope Junior is to provide youth with positive experiences at a young age that will translate into positive choices in the future.
What started as a spin-off from Project Hope focusing on pregnancy prevention, serving only girls, has blossomed into multi-faceted, year-round, extra-curricular initiative that has helped shaped the lives of thousands of children and teens over the last 30 years. Hope Junior offers children and teens high-quality after-school program activities and opportunities during non-school hours. The goal of Hope Junior is to provide youth with positive experiences at a young age that will translate into positive choices in the future.
2016: Chicago Coalition for the HomelessDistrict 219 Contribution: $103,482
Since 1980, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has had a clear mission: “We organize and advocate to prevent and end homelessness, because we believe housing is a human right in a just society.Our non-profit uses community organizing, advocacy and legal aid to press for measures that help homeless people get back on their feet. CCH counters public complacency about people left homeless and without options due to extreme poverty." Learn More Here |
2015: Daniel M. Horyn FoundationDistrict 219 Contribution: $88,000
Mr. Horyn was an English teacher and the cross country/track coach at Niles North. In August of 2012, he was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer. Horyn taught in the 2012-2013 school year and continued to inspire the lives around him. In September of 2013, Horyn lost his battle to cancer, but his legacy lives on in the lives of many students, teachers, family and friends he impacted. His wife, Andrea Horyn, started the Daniel M. Horyn Foundation in memory of Mr. Horyn and to raise awareness for esophageal cancer to eventually find a cure for the disease. Mission statement: THE DANIEL M. HORYN FOUNDATION STRIVES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER, A DISEASE THAT IS RARELY DETECTED UNTIL LATER STAGES WITH FORMATIVE MALIGNANCIES. |
2014: CROSO

District 219 Contribution: $72,193
C.R.O.S.O. ( Child Restoration Organization Support Organization ) is a non-profit organization helping former street children in Uganda attain higher education. CROSO completes this mission by providing scholarship funds to C.R.O. youth for post-secondary education.
Learn More Here
C.R.O.S.O. ( Child Restoration Organization Support Organization ) is a non-profit organization helping former street children in Uganda attain higher education. CROSO completes this mission by providing scholarship funds to C.R.O. youth for post-secondary education.
Learn More Here
2013: Rustic Falls Nature Camp

District 219 Contribution: $83,184.75
Mission: Rustic Falls Nature Camp creates unique outdoor experiences for at-risk-youth, cancer survivors, and physically and mentally challenged children and adults. The camp strives to offer a safe, nurturing environment that provides recreational and educational activities to enhance the lives of children and their families.
Learn More Here
Mission: Rustic Falls Nature Camp creates unique outdoor experiences for at-risk-youth, cancer survivors, and physically and mentally challenged children and adults. The camp strives to offer a safe, nurturing environment that provides recreational and educational activities to enhance the lives of children and their families.
Learn More Here
2012: Special Gifts Theatre

District 219 Contribution: $84,909.82
Mission: Special Gifts Theater aims to provide children and teens with special needs with an unique and creative drama experience enabling personal growth while breaking down stereotypes related to disabilities within the community at large.
Learn More Here
Mission: Special Gifts Theater aims to provide children and teens with special needs with an unique and creative drama experience enabling personal growth while breaking down stereotypes related to disabilities within the community at large.
Learn More Here
2011: Refugee One

District 219 Contribution: $86,000
Mission: Refugee One creates opportunities for refugees fleeing war, terror, and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance. Providing a local home for the world's most persecuted.
Learn More Here
Mission: Refugee One creates opportunities for refugees fleeing war, terror, and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance. Providing a local home for the world's most persecuted.
Learn More Here
2010: Expanding Lives

District 219 Contribution: $83,000
Mission: Expanding Lives helps young women develop the voice, self- confidence, and the problem solving skills necessary for empowerment. They encourage participants to become active role models, leaders, and agents of change in their home communities.
Learn More Here
Mission: Expanding Lives helps young women develop the voice, self- confidence, and the problem solving skills necessary for empowerment. They encourage participants to become active role models, leaders, and agents of change in their home communities.
Learn More Here
2009: Camp One Step at a Time

District 219 Contribution: $83,000
Mission: Children's Oncology Services, Inc. (COSI) believes that a diagnosis of cancer should not prevent a child from experiencing the simple joys of childhood.
Learn More Here
Mission: Children's Oncology Services, Inc. (COSI) believes that a diagnosis of cancer should not prevent a child from experiencing the simple joys of childhood.
Learn More Here
2008: Partners in Health

District 219 Contribution: $70,000
Mission: At its root, their mission is both medical and moral. It is based on solidarity, rather than charity alone. When a person in Peru, Siberia, or rural Haiti falls ill, PIH uses all of the means at their disposal to make them well - from pressuring drug manufacturers, to lobbying policy makers, to providing medical care and social services; whatever it takes. Just as we would do if a member of our own family - or we ourselves - were ill.
Learn More Here
Mission: At its root, their mission is both medical and moral. It is based on solidarity, rather than charity alone. When a person in Peru, Siberia, or rural Haiti falls ill, PIH uses all of the means at their disposal to make them well - from pressuring drug manufacturers, to lobbying policy makers, to providing medical care and social services; whatever it takes. Just as we would do if a member of our own family - or we ourselves - were ill.
Learn More Here
2007: Have Dreams

District 219 Contribution: $51,000
Mission: Have Dreams aspires to help children with autism improve their abilities to learn, function independently, and socialize so that they may realize their full potential and develop into contributing members of their communities.
Learn More Here
Mission: Have Dreams aspires to help children with autism improve their abilities to learn, function independently, and socialize so that they may realize their full potential and develop into contributing members of their communities.
Learn More Here
2006: Rock for Kids

District 219 Contribution: $44,000
Mission: Rock for Kids provides music education to under served children in Chicago, sparking creativity and passion, teaching critical thinking, supporting academic achievement and enriching young lives.
Learn More Here
Mission: Rock for Kids provides music education to under served children in Chicago, sparking creativity and passion, teaching critical thinking, supporting academic achievement and enriching young lives.
Learn More Here
2005: Causes

District 219 Contribution: $24,000
Mission: Causes is a charity that raises money to help children with abused backgrounds.
Mission: Causes is a charity that raises money to help children with abused backgrounds.
2004: Bear Necessities

District 219 Contribution: $23,000
Mission: Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a national organization whose mission is to eliminate pediatric cancer and to provide hope and support to those who are touched by it.
Learn More Here
Mission: Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a national organization whose mission is to eliminate pediatric cancer and to provide hope and support to those who are touched by it.
Learn More Here
2003: Children's Miracle Network

District 219 Contribution: $8,000
Mission: Children's Miracle Network saves the lives of children by raising funds and awareness for children's hospitals and foundations throughout North America.
Learn More Here
Mission: Children's Miracle Network saves the lives of children by raising funds and awareness for children's hospitals and foundations throughout North America.
Learn More Here