Wartburg College Dance Marathon (WCDM), a premiere Miracle Network Dance Marathon program, is the largest philanthropic student organization at Wartburg College. WCDM’s mission is to support, promote, and celebrate the lives of the children at our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, through yearlong fundraising and social activities. Wartburg College Dance Marathon supports the families and children who are battling pediatric illnesses and injuries — it’s all For the Kids (FTK).
DANCE MARATHON
Over the past decade, Wartburg students have raised more than $800,000 for the Children's Miracle Network and the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.
HAVE FUN AND HELP CHILDREN. EXPERIENCE MORE.
Contact Us
100 Wartburg Blvd.
Waverly, IA 50677
Email: wcdm@wartburg.edu
Co-directors: Nicole Miller and Madelyn Schuchmann
Adviser: Alex Buchheim
Become a Participant in 3 easy steps!
1. Register!
2. Fundraise — Use your personal online fundraising page via DonorDrive to share with family and friends on social media AND participate in WCDM-facilitated fundraising opportunities throughout the academic year.
3. Have Fun! — Join the big event!
Fundraising Tips
- Use your online fundraising page. This is one of the easiest ways to share Dance Marathon with friends, family, and businesses to raise money! Register online and set up your fundraising page. You can add photos, videos and write a personal message — or better yet, connect your fundraising page to Facebook and Twitter — then send fundraising emails right from your page.
- Write letters! Use your connections! Wartburg College Dance Marathon has letters all ready for you to send. All you have to do is sign them and address the envelopes (we provide those as well).
- Like us on www.facebook.com/pages/wartburgdm and take part in our various fundraisers
Dance Marathon FAQs
Why should I join Wartburg College Dance Marathon?
There are a million reasons people join Wartburg College Dance Marathon, and the biggest reason: it’s For The Kids! YOU can make miracles and improve the lives of our kiddos.
How do I raise my money?
You can write letters to friends and family asking for donations. Make sure to use the online site too and participate in the various fundraisers sponsored by WCDM.
But I can’t dance!
That’s okay! Wartburg College Dance Marathon is so much more than dancing. Sure, you’ll get your groove on with the Morale Dance and maybe challenge a kiddo to a dance-off, but here’s what else is in store: inflatables, games, hanging out with kids, contests, prizes, family stories, and much more!
Isn’t Dance Marathon just one day a year?
No way! Dance Marathon is a yearlong effort that includes family events, social activities, and fundraising activities to build momentum toward the big event. Get involved and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about what is currently going on.
Who are the families that Dance Marathon supports?
Children who are receiving treatments in Iowa City at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, especially those in Waverly and surrounding areas.
About Dance Marathon
Wartburg College Dance Marathon is a yearlong fundraising effort and celebration of life. WCDM supports children battling illness and injury at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Each spring we celebrate our efforts at our Big Event, a 12-hour marathon comprised of food, games, activities, Miracle Family Stories, and dancing! WCDM is For The Kids. Each dancer is required to raise a minimum of $150 to attend the Big Event. However, Wartburg students frequently reach the minimum and raise hundreds and thousands more. In 2018, CMN ranked Wartburg College Dance Marathon as #7 in the nation for amount raised per capita.
Fundraising Breakdown through the Years:
- 2024: $112,341,16
- 2023: $131,527.15
- 2022: $176,364.14
- 2021: $158,122.13
- 2020: $96,313.20
- 2019: $153,307.11
- 2018: $115,190.10
- 2017: $81,850.00
- 2016: $55,016.88
- 2015: $51,200.07
- 2014: $50,646.06
- 2013: $32,000.13
- 2012: $27,877.14
- 2011: $17,704.13
- 2010: $13,440.35
- 2009: $11,214.31
Ways to help:
Food Donations
We feed everyone lunch and supper and offer snacks throughout the day
Water and Sport Drink Donations
Bottles of water, Gatorade, or other sports drinks
Business Partnerships
Become a business partner with WCDM. Utilize WCDM as an outlet to support your business and support our cause and costs to run the organizations in order to raise even more money for the kids! Contact wcdm@wartburg.edu if interested.
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of children and their families. The hospital’s staff members provide care across a full spectrum — from health promotion and well child care to the crisis of traumatic injury and life-threatening illness, to birth defects, chronic illness, and developmental disabilities. University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital was just ranked #20 nationally by Parents magazine on their best children’s hospital list. This nationally recognized pediatric center of excellence, providing comprehensive health care for children from birth to young adulthood in our outpatient clinics, surgical treatment and diagnostic centers, and inpatient beds. And as an academic teaching facility, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital prepares medical and health care leaders for the future. Get to know them as your resource and partner in caring for children. For more information please check out www.uihealthcare.com/children.
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) is a non-profit organization comprising of over 170 premier children’s hospitalsacross the US and Canada. Every year, Children’s Miracle Network hospitals treat 17 million children for every disease and injury imaginable. Children’s Miracle Network hospitals impact the lives of more children than any other children’s organization in the world. Children’s Miracle Network dollars stay local and help benefit children and families treated at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
These funds help to provide pediatric research, patient enhancements as well as entertainment systems at the bedside, books, games and creating a home within the hospital for each child and family. For more information please check out www.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org.