Starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, USC Dance Marathon led a 24-hour fundraising push. The organization aims to raise $100,000, one tenth of its total goal, by 10 a.m. Thursday with Forever to Thee Kids Day.
"It's really exciting to see people hit their goals and get super excited about it, because then I can see how they're sharing the passion for the kids," USCDM vice president of finance Sarah Maples said.
Miracle kids played on Greene Street, with games and merchandise for students. Online, Dance Marathon members ask for donations on social media and through platforms like Venmo and DonorDrive. The $1 million goal, announced Oct. 4, is the largest ever set by USCDM — last year, $703,289 was raised. At the March 3 main event, more than 1,500 students and alumni will dance from 10 a.m. to midnight.
All proceeds raised by USCDM go to Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, first to fund the Child Life program for more accommodating hospital visits and then to support the construction of a playground on hospital grounds.
— Senior news writer Hannah Dear contributed to this report.