Students high step it through 30 years of Dance Marathon at FSU
Dance Marathon volunteers reveal the total FSU and the Tallahassee area raised in 2025: $ 1,334,457.78.
By Audrey Post FSU College of Medicine
Dance Marathon at Florida State University( DM at FSU) was destined to achieve milestones in 2025, as it was the 30th year the university and the greater Tallahassee community came together to raise money to support pediatric health care.
A second milestone was achieved when“ the reveal” showed this year’ s dance-fest raised $ 1,334,457, surpassing last year’ s $ 1.24 million to support Children’ s Miracle Network programs in the Gainesville area and pediatric outreach programs of the FSU College of Medicine.
The total includes $ 258,985 raised by middle school and high school partner events in Leon and Wakulla counties.
“ Thank you for bringing our community together for a cause,” DM at FSU Executive Director Darcy Sullivan told the crowd shortly before the reveal.“ This has been the best year of my life.”
An estimated 1,500 students participated in the Feb. 28-March 2 event at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. Including this year’ s total, DM at FSU – FSU’ s largest student-led organization and the fifth-largest Dance Marathon in the United States – has raised more than $ 22 million for the cause.
“ When we all believe in miracles, anything is possible,” said Elizabeth West, marathon director.
Alma B. Littles, M. D., dean of the College of Medicine, noted that FSU had no medical school when DM at FSU began, and all proceeds supported UF Health Shands Children ' s Hospital in Gainesville.
“ This year, we are celebrating both the 25th anniversary of the legislation that created the College of Medicine, and the 20th anniversary of the graduation of our inaugural class,” Littles said.“ Dance Marathon plays a role in our coming full circle as we grew.”
In 2003, DM at FSU and Children’ s Miracle Network made the College of Medicine a beneficiary, evenly splitting the proceeds after expenses between Shands and the College of Medicine’ s pediatric outreach programs.
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