TitanThon Raises Over $22,000 for OSF Children檚 Hospital of Illinois
March 4, 2019
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 摀 Surpassing their goal of $22,000, 糖心动漫vlog檚 registered student organization (RSO) fundraised $22,125.56 for the . The year-long fundraising effort culminated with TitanThon檚 main event on Saturday, Feb. 9 in the Hansen Student Center.
TitanThon is a student-run organization whose mission is to provide monetary and emotional support to the families and workers of the OSF Children檚 Hospital of Illinois. TitanThon檚 slogan is 淔or The Kids� because 淓very penny that we fundraise goes directly to the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois to fund the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit),� according to TitanThon president and elementary education major Emma Dalton �19.
By raising $22,125.56, TitanThon fundraised 22 percent more than in 2018 when the organization raised $18,050.22, which was a 96 percent increase from the 2017 total of $9,180.50.
TitanThon members live by the phrase "Every kid deserves a chance to be a Titan,� Dalton said. 淓very child in the hospital, no matter how small, will grow up to have aspirations and dreams, and we believe that those children should have the same opportunity that we have 摀 to pick a prospective career and pursue our passions.�
Many other campus groups collaborate with TitanThon, including Greek Life organizations and numerous RSOs. By nature, Dalton said, TitanThon encourages students to look beyond Illinois Wesleyan檚 campus to become a part of something that impacts others in the community.
This year, six 渕iracle kids� � supported by the TitanThon � attended the main event, each with a unique story about their journey. TitanThon檚 main event is a celebration of the year檚 fundraising efforts, and a chance for the students to meet the families whose lives they are making a difference in. Participants pledge to stand on their feet for the entirety of the event in honor of the patients and their families.
TitanThon檚 event also featured activities for participants and Miracle Kids to participate in, such as "Are You Smarter than a 6th Grader," in which Miracle Kid Kaden asked participants questions about his interests.
This year檚 participants received a "miracle band" that resembled a hospital band. They wore the band throughout the entirety of the event and only removed it at the end to signify the same process that children go through when they enter and leave the hospital.
淧articipants are encouraged to consider that while they get to remove their bands at the end of the night, there are still numerous kids in the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois that have not yet finished their fight with childhood illness,� Dalton said.
TitanThon檚 efforts have a profound impact on the families of the OSF Children檚 Hospital of Illinois. In response to the event, one mother wrote, "It is so heartwarming to us parents how much you love on our kiddos and how special you make them feel...watching your child suffer is horrible, but you guys are the ray of sunshine at the end of tough days. You are making a HUGE difference and miracles happen every day thanks to you!"
TitanThon is nationally affiliated with the , a national organization on over 300 U.S. college campuses that fundraises for their local Children檚 Miracle Network Children's Hospital. Most programs conclude with a big event ranging from four to 46 hours in which the participants hear stories from Miracle Families, participate in activities, and fundraise for their local children's hospital.
By Megan Baker �21