As the 11th annual Dance Marathon at UCLA, presented by Bank of the West – “DM@UCLA” to those in the know – draws closer, we at the Foundation wanted to recognize Bruin students and alums who have contributed to this unique event over the years!
UCLA is one of several universities nationwide to organize dance marathons on behalf of the Foundation.
In 2011, DM@UCLA marked 10 years by raising over $410,000; the proceeds from the event benefited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, One Heartland, Project Kindle, and The UCLA AIDS Institute.
Elizabeth Glaser’s son Jake was on hand to rally the dancers, while Foundation co-founders Susan DeLaurentis and Susie Zeegen addressed the crowd at the close of the 26-hour event, which helped raise awareness for and erase the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS. Jake told the dancers at the 2011 event that UCLA's event and its participants "showed the rest of the colleges and universities out there what’s possible."
DM@UCLA was originally organized by the university's student-run Pediatric AIDS Coalition, and today is considered the largest student-organized philanthropic event on the West Coast; UCLA is also the Foundation’s largest collegiate donor.
It’s no stretch to say that DM@UCLA has established itself as a tradition on campus and in the Los Angeles community – a loud, energetic, boisterous, fun, and compassionate free-for-all that unites students, community activists, celebrities, and leaders around the cause of ending pediatric AIDS.
The Foundation can't wait to be there for the festivities at DM@UCLA this year on February 18th and 19th! Check out
www.bruindancemarathon.org for more information.