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Coral Springs High School Dance Marathon Raise Funds for The Children’s Miracle Network

by Guest Contributor March 24, 2019

by Guest Contributor March 24, 2019 39 views

Coral Springs High School Dance Marathon Raise Funds for The Children’s Miracle Network

Courtesy Coral Springs High School dance marathon.

By: Jen Russon

In a charitable event taking place nationwide at over 300 colleges and high schools each spring, Coral Springs High School, working with Florida State University, helped raised over $7,600 for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital through their Dance Marathon.

At their third annual Dance Marathon held on March 21, students took over the CSHS gymnasium and danced, sold cotton candy, snow cones and admission to a bounce house. The Student Government Association raised the lion’s share of money, with the CSHS Spanish Honor Society trailing in collected donations. By the end of the event, they were close to their goal.

At least five CSHS students were responsible for raising hundreds of dollars individually: SGA President, Isabella Alfano was the top fundraiser, followed by SGA Vice President Jayleen Pesantes and SGA Secretary, Kristen Russo, who came in a close third. The teens encouraged donations via social media in the weeks preceding their dance marathon.

“Our team joined together to raise funds for children from our area who are sick and in need of life-saving care,” said Alfano. She explained on her donation page specific uses for funds raised, such as ambulance incubators for newborns, and health innovations that enable phlebotomists to draw blood from pediatric patients painlessly.

This year’s dance marathon was overseen by Forest Glen middle school teacher, Cassandra Brice, who is also the sponsor of the SGA. One hundred percent of donations collected by Brice’s team are given to The Children’s Miracle Network.

Brice’s colleague, City Commissioner Joshua Simmons who teaches history, said he couldn’t be happier for her and the SGA.

“Congratulations to Ms. Brice and the SGA for this amazing feat. I am proud to be a teacher at Coral Springs High where we foster an environment that teaches students to care about more than themselves,” said Simmons.

He later added that faculty at CSHS pushes students to make a positive impact and leave their mark on the world. “It’s Colt pride on full display.”, Simmons said of the donations his school raised at their dance marathon.

The dance marathon is managed by Tirzha Herman, finance director at Florida State University. Herman has organized dozens of these events since February, and said Miami’s Nicklaus Children’s Hospital benefits from funds raised when Broward County Public Schools participate in the charitable event.