FTK
For The Kids
Steve Stefani Dance Marathons
Springfield High School
2003 to present
I went to Penn State and there are so many things I love about this university. Among other things, it has the most successful student-run fundraiser in the country. The students raise millions of dollars every year to combat childhood cancer (For The Kids- FTK) through a dance marathon (THON). This event is really a source of pride for me.
So, in 2002, when Ellen, one of my high school graduates came to me and asked if she could have a fundraiser at Springfield, to raise money and sponsor her in this Penn State event, I jumped on the chance to join in this good cause. She wanted to have a penny drive and I told her that were were going to collect dollars, not pennies.
And we did. We modeled a dance marathon after THON and we raised $12,000 that night. Jackie was our highly motivated student leader. She had lost her sister to cancer just a year prior and she worked with a commitment to her deceased sister to make this event a huge success. I was so damn proud of her and all of the students.
This event has grown to the most popular event in our school. Holding one of the ten positions on the leadership team is the most coveted position in the school. Kids hold these spots in more esteem than the football quarterback or the homecoming queen. Many of the these leaders then go to Penn State just so they can work on this event at the collegiate level.
To date, my high school students have raised over $1,000,000 cumulatively. This thought brings me to tears.
UPDATE: the 2017 dance raised $250,000.
