NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY DANCE MARATHON

ROLE
Executive Co-Chair

DATES
April 2019 - April 2020

GRAPHICS: Jessie Paridis

Northwestern University Dance Marathon is one of the largest independent student-run philanthropies in the country, raising more than $20 million in its 46-year history, including more than $1 million in each of the past eight years. NUDM is a 30-hour marathon in March with more than 1,000 participants and involves even more students throughout the year via fundraising and service efforts.

Rachel managed and supported a 20-person Executive Board and 450+ committee members. She served as the liaison between NUDM and the 2020 primary beneficiary, Children’s Home & Aid, and the secondary beneficiary, the Evanston Community Foundation. Rachel planned the 30-hour dance-a-thon in March for 1,000+ dancers, working with admin, sponsors, students and key donors. She played a role in planning the 2020 marketing strategy, centered around themes of home and belonging, with the Marketing Co-Chairs and NUDM 2020’s vision. 

Two days prior to the event, Northwestern University decided to cancel the dance marathon due to the spread of COVID-19. Rachel and her team handled all crisis management, including contacting sponsors, vendors, university admin and donors. She rallied the 2020 Executive Board and the dance marathon community to continue fundraising for NUDM’s beneficiaries. Rachel and the Marketing Co-Chairs reworked the 30-hour social media plan to create a weekend-of, virtual dance marathon on social media. At midnight on March 8, 2020 (when the actual dance marathon was supposed to end), NUDM had raised over $1 million without an actual event.