Sign Up Today to Volunteer with Chicago DM at TBOX2011!!

TBOX Volunteers Needed!

When: Saturday, December 10
Time: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

We are pleased to announce that Festa Parties and TBOX are a Silver Sponsor for the 2012 Chicago Dance Marathon! In return for this generous donation and publicity, CDM has agreed to provide 2 volunteers per bar during TBOX and we need your help.

Sign up today to be a "bar host" at one of the 34 bars participating in TBOX. As a volunteer, you will have a reserved table and will be asked to perform the following duties:

• Taking pictures with official TBOX Picture Frames
• Distributing the infamous cereal shots
• Giving out bar stickers
• Rubber-stamping people’s passports (New)

UNLIKE last year, you will not be asked or required to do ANYTHING
security related, so volunteering will be 110% FUN.

As a Chicago Dance Marathon Volunteer bar host you would receive:
• A TBOX gym bag containing all the goods paid participates receive
• A TBOX t-shirt
• Two free meals
• Free soft drinks throughout the day

Please join us on December 10, 2011 to support CDM, while at the same time having fun, being social, and participating in TBOX!!! Feel free to ask your friends, roommate, significant other, etc. to help
you host a bar.

If you are interested to once again participate in TBOX as a Chicago Dance Marathon Volunteer, contact, Annie McNulty, at amcnulty@chicagodancemarathon.org.

For the Kids!

Four days left to fundraise!

You only have 4 more days to fundraise!

How can you raise $200 in 4 days?

1) Send 8 emails asking for $25 or think of 4 people that can give you $50!

2) Host a Bulls/Blackhawks Tailgate party- ask your guests to make a donation in a collection bucket when they arrive. 

3) Does your company match for donations or volunteer hours?  Ask today- Dance Marathon counts!

4) Stay in!  Instead of going out this weekend, use the money you would have spent to give to the kids!

5) Use social media! Facebook, Tweet, tell your friends how much more you need for the kids!

6) Seeing family this weekend for holidays? Perfect, show them the pictures and share your memories with them! 

For the Kids!

Important Event Details!

Attention dancers!  Please review the following important event details for CHICAGO Dance Marathon this Saturday, March 19th!


Registration and Ceremonies:

Registration begins at 7:00am. Upon arrival, follow signage when you enter the building for CHICAGO Dance Marathon. We will be located in the Sheraton Ballroom 8, 9, & 10. Please bring any checks or cash that you have collected to be turned in that morning. We will kick off opening ceremonies at 8:00am with a family run in, so please be sure to be on time!  Closing ceremonies will begin at 9 p.m.

Location:
Sheraton Hotel & Towers
301 East North Water Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Parking:
Parking is available at the Sheraton for $18.00.  When you arrive, pull into the parking garage and they will valet park your car.  CTA and Buses also are very accessible.

Dress:
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes for this event. Athletic shorts/pants, jeans or khaki pants are appropriate. We will supply you with a Chicago Dance Marathon short sleeve t-shirt to wear at the event. Feel free to bring "flare" for your team to wear if you would like! There will be a coat and bag check for $1 that you can access upon your arrival (yet, please bring as little as possible.)

Flare!

Feel free to bring FLARE to the event, dress up, be goofy....the more fun you have with it, the more fun the day will be! Also, be sure to bring your camera to capture the moments of CDM 2011; you won't be able to take enough pictures of the fun and the brave patients!

After Party!
There will be a CHICAGO Dance Marathon after party as well-- if 13 hours of fun isn't enough for you, well then...you are in luck-- we are partnering with Lizzie McNeil's Irish Pub (400 N McClurg--just behind the Sheraton Hotel) $25 all you can drink for 3 hours from the end of the event until 12:30pm.

See you SATURDAY!

Fundraising Tips for the Final Stretch!

Check out these awesome tips for fundraising during the final 10 days before the marathon!

• Happy Hours at local bars/restaurants
• You know that thing call Facebook....well, use it to your advantage! Facebook message 5 of your friends each day for the next week....if half of them give $10 or $15 bucks you will be well over $400 donated!
• Know an outside sales rep for Mary Kay, Rubbermaid, Candles, Jewelry....perfect see if you can host a party and you get a percentage of all sales!
• Email, email, email....people WILL donate and a lot of time they want to donate and do something good! Just make sure you do your part in following up with them. People have to see something on average seven times before they act on it!
• Bake Sale or a "Causal for a Cause" day at work...this works well and gets your co-workers involved and in the know about what you are doing!

Also, if you register as a team of 5 or more you only have to raise $400 individually. For a team of 5, your fundraising requirement is $2000 collectively; a team of 6 would have a collective requirement of $2400. If you join as an individual you have to raise $500 and you will be placed on a team for the event. For all of the dancers that registered online between February 14th-28th...you were granted $50 towards your fundraising goal. This will not be reflected online, but we have this on the back end and your fundraising total will be $450 is an individual or $350 if with a team of five or more!

Why I Dance - Morgan Rohrbach

I dance to bring smiles to thousands of kids treated at Children’s Memorial each year!

I dance to send a message of hope to kids and families treated at Children’s Memorial Hospital!

I dance to remember those we have lost, those that battle illness and those that have survived!

- Morgan Rohrbach

Children's Memorial Hospital

Everyone has a personal story about why they participate in CHICAGO Dance Marathon.  Tell us why you dance!  Send your entry tochicagodancemarathon@gmail.com. 

Update! Great Entertainment, Miracle Families, Awesome Incentives!

As we prepare for CHICAGO Dance Marathon 2011 we have some exciting things to share with you!  Our entertainment schedule is coming together nicely and we are excited to announce that once again we will be joined by The Breakfast Club this year.  Not only will they jam out to 80’s songs but will host live band karaoke helping us to reveal all that talent in the crowd!  We have over 70 patient family members that will be in attendance and are excited to meet you and share their stories!  The food list is delicious and the DJ are getting their play list updated!  There will be some new special additions to Dance Marathon 2011 as well as some surprise guest appearances!  Best yet our team as collecting some AMAZING incentive prices for you to earn and win. 

Everyone that raises over these amounts will be entered to win:

$750+

Groupon Gift Card ($50)

2 Trattoria Roma Gift Certificates ($50 each)

One Night Stay at The Westin Downtown

2 Cubs Game Tickets

2 Sox Game Tickets

$1,000+

2 Starbucks Gift Baskets ($100 value each)

2 Zanies Gift Certificates ($100 value each)

1 Old Chicago Gift Card ($100 value)

1 Barcelona Gift Card ($100 value)

1 Month unlimited classes @ Barre Bee Fit ($125 value)

1 PS3

One Night Stay at the Ritz Carlton Chicago

$1,250+

2 'Night out in Old Town Packages' Including 1 $100 Zanies GC and 1 $75 O'Briens GC

2 Joakim Noah Signed Basketballs

1 Joe Paterno Signed FB

Giant Customized Bobblehead

Flip Camera

$1,500+

1 Pair of Tickets to the March 28th Bulls Game + Joakim Noah Signed Basketball

Devin Hester Signed Football Jersey

$2500

(3) Zoom Teeth Whitening Treatments

5 Night Stay at the Wailea Beach, Hawaii Marriott Resort & Spa-Ocean View with dinner and show

And don't forget our February incentive ending Monday, February 28th!  Registrants will receive FREE registration AND a $50 fundraising credit. It's only through Monday though so sign up today using the code "DM-cdm."

Also, the person who recruits the most dancers will receive a Free Apple iPad!  Make sure to tell people include your name as the person who referred them when they register.

Only 21 days to go - recruit, recruit, recruit!

FTK!

27 Days to Go: A Few Tips to Help You Prepare

CHICAGO Dance Marathon is now 27 days away! Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

1) Book your room at the Sheraton! If you would like to stay at the Sheraton the night before or the night of Dance Marathon please call the Sheraton and tell them you are with CHICAGO Dance Marathon and Children’s Memorial and they will give you the special rate of $159/night! Be sure to do this quickly by calling The Sheraton Hotel and Towers at 312.464.1000

2) Don't forget those emails! We still need your help with recruitment! Now is the time. Can you help us by recruiting one more person or creating a team? Have you sent out all of your fundraising emails? If you need any help recruiting or raising your funds please feel free to contact Erin Hagman at ehagman@chicagodancemarathon.org.  

3) Remember our February incentive!  Those dancers who register by the end of the month will receive FREE registration and a $50 fundraising credit if they use the code "DM-cdm" when they register.  For those already signed up, encourage your friends to join, too!  Make sure they list your name as the person who referred them.  The individual with the most referrals will win a FREE iPad!

3) Corporate Matching! Does your company match your donations? Look into this! This can help you quickly double your fundraising numbers. If you have questions ask your human resources department or manager.

For the Kids!

Why I Dance - Erin Hagman

The smiles and positive energy of the children are contagious and they bring so much joy and happiness to those around them. It makes me feel so fortunate to meet such strong, courageous children and I want to support the institution that makes all of this possible! :)

- Erin Hagman
Recruitment Director, CHICAGO Dance Marathon

Everyone has a personal story about why they participate in CHICAGO Dance Marathon.  Tell us why you dance!  Send your entry to chicagodancemarathon@gmail.com. 

Recruit Your Friends and You Could Win a FREE iPad!

Recruit your friends for CHICAGO Dance Marathon 2011 and you could win an Apple iPad!!!

Anyone who registers with the code DM-cdm between now and February 28 will receive FREE registration AND a $50 fundraising credit toward your goal! What's the benefit for you?  Have your friends list your name as the referral and the person with the most referrals will win a brand new Apple iPad!

Copy and paste the message below, send it out to all of your friends- it's that easy!!!

Sign up by February 28 and get FREE registration AND a $50 credit towards your fundraising!

Use this code to get FREE registration:  DM-cdm

When asked who referred you put my name!

Good Luck!  For the Kids!

No Limits for Skye

As Seen in the February 2011 edition of Children's Memorial Hospital's Heroes Update


When Skye Carter was an infant, doctors told her parents that their daughter had profound hearing loss and would never hear or speak. Today, thanks to successful cochlear implant surgery at Children’s Memorial Hospital, 13-year-old Skye is a confident young woman who recently learned to dance the tango. View a FOX Chicago News feature.


Skye will be joining us at CHICAGO Dance Marathon on March 19th.  Register today at www.chicagodancemarathon.org 

Dance Marathon Wristband Night: February 19th

Hey CDMers! One of our fabulous teams, Team Dancing Machines, is having a wristband night on Saturday, February 19th to raise money for CHICAGO Dance Marathon!

Wristbands are $30 and $10 from each wristband sold will go directly to fundraising efforts.

For your money, you get three hours of beer, rail liquor, appetizers and the knowledge that your drinking is helping sick kids and their families.

Great idea, Team Dancing Machines!

When:
Saturday, February 19th
8 - 11p.m.

Where:
State Restaurant & Cafe
935 West Webster Avenue
Chicago, IL

Come out to support the cause!  

Valentine's Day Cookie Decorating Event: You're Invited!

You’re invited to our Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating Event! Join us and meet some of our Dance Marathon kids and families, decorate cookies and make crafts for kids at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Please invite your friends as well!  If you would like to tour the hospital we will be touring the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Brown Family Life Center and the ER!

When: 
Sunday, February 13

Time:
1pm-3pm

Where:
Children’s Memorial Foundation
759 West Belden (corner of Belden & Halsted) , Chicago, IL 60614

Parking:
Street Parking or Children’s Memorial Hospital Ramp

Please RSVP with your name and number attending to Jen Chock at jchock@chicagodancemarathon.org

See you there!

Charlie Bounces Back From Open Heart Surgery

Born with seven holes in his heart, Charlie, shown with his parents and his sister, Gracie, is thriving thanks to the expertise of the cardiovascular–thoracic surgeons at Children’s Memorial Hospital.

When Holly and Peter Krug’s otherwise healthy 18–month–old son Charlie was diagnosed with a hole in his heart by a pediatric cardiologist, they were devastated. Although he recommended they wait six months to see if the hole closed on its own, the Krugs took a more proactive approach: they decided to seek care for Charlie at Children’s Memorial Hospital, which has the Chicago region’s largest pediatric heart center.

After an initial consultation with cardiologist Dolores Vitullo, MD, at Children’s Memorial’s satellite facility at Central DuPage Hospital, Dr. Vitullo referred them to David Wax, MD, Director of Children’s Memorial’s Interventional Catheterization program. After Charlie underwent an echocardiogram procedure, Dr. Wax gave them even more shocking news: Charlie had several holes in his heart, and would need open heart surgery to repair them. That same day they met with Carl Backer, MD, Head of the Division of Cardiovascular–Thoracic Surgery, who would perform Charlie’s operation.

“Dr. Backer took the time to thoroughly explain the procedure and answer our many questions,” says Holly. “He put our minds at ease and made us feel like Charlie would be in the best hands — and he was!”

The day of Charlie’s surgery proved to be an emotional one for his parents. “I’ll never forget that moment when we handed our baby over and watched him being wheeled into surgery,” Holly says. “Even though we knew Charlie was at the best place, with the best surgeons, we still had a hard time letting go of him.”

During Charlie’s operation the nurses kept the family updated every hour. Ultimately, Dr. Backer and his team discovered seven holes in Charlie’s heart, which was quite large because it had been working so hard. “We’re very fortunate that Charlie’s condition was discovered and corrected sooner rather than later,” says Holly.

Charlie, now 2, spent a week recovering in the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where he was treated with great care. Holly says everyone at Children’s Memorial, from the medical staff to the maintenance staff, was friendly and helpful throughout their stay.

“The nurses at Children’s are just the best,” she says. “They watched over Charlie and constantly kept their eyes on all of those monitors in his room, just like they were air traffic controllers. He left the hospital giving all the nurses ‘high fives’ and kisses. Also, the volunteers who come around to talk and play with the kids are such wonderful and special people. They always had a fun pillowcase or a new toy for Charlie."

Today, thanks to the care he received from the heart specialists at Children’s Memorial, Charlie is a healthy, busy little boy, and recently transitioned from six–month follow–ups with Dr. Vitullo to yearly visits. He loves “driving” his battery-powered John Deere Gator Ride–On toy vehicle, and has been known to ride it around in circles for hours at a time. Holly says Charlie loves all forms of cars and trucks, and can name even the most unusual farm and construction vehicles.

“Children’s Memorial is an amazing place with amazing people, and we are determined to keep it close to our hearts,” she says. “We will be forever grateful.”

Join us at Joe's on Weed this Friday!

Anyone else tired of this cold weather? Come warm up with us and Too White Crew this Friday, January 28th at Joe's on Weed! Joe's is teaming up with us to host this special event. Colt45 will be on special for $3 and CHICAGO Dance Marathon will benefit from a portion of the cover charge paid by each attendee!

Check out our informational booth there, too, for lots more information about the event itself, registration and how to donate.


Come "Bust a Move" with us, Too White Crew and Joe's! The concert starts at 10 p.m. Can't wait to see you there.

Joe's Bar
940 W. Weed St.
Chicago, IL, 60622
Just one block west of the North and Clybourne Red Line stop.

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