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Hi Everyone!

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Welcome to the official IlliniThon website, a Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon 

program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign! For those unfamiliar, IlliniThon is a campus-wide movement that raises money and awareness for our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. We work throughout the year to ensure our Miracle Kids receive the best medical care available and hope to create a future free of pediatric illness and injury. For 15 years and counting, thousands of students have come together as one generation fighting for the next, making IlliniThon the largest philanthropic student-run organization at the University of Illinois. This year-long effort culminates with our 12-hour dance marathon big event in April. This event is a huge celebration that perfectly condenses months of hard work done by our Executive Board, Leadership Team, and General Members into one “Big Event,” but the impact of IlliniThon reaches far beyond the walls of the University’s Activity and Recreation Center from which it is held. At the Big Event and small events throughout the semester, students get to hear from our Miracle Families and listen to their inspiring stories. IlliniThon is an organization that allows you to make connections with families whose lives are being changed because of the great efforts made by our students and that feeling is something you can’t get anywhere else.

 

What IlliniThon is able to do for the Miracle Kiddos and Families of St. John’s Children’s Hospital would not be possible without the generosity of students, donors, sponsors, alumni, and volunteers like you! In 2023, we were able to raise $91,000. In 2024, we raised $72,000. In 2025, we raised over $80,000, which beat the past year’s total by over $10,000. With your help, we hope to continue increasing our fundraising efforts and raise $100,000 in 2026 for the kids! 

 

As President this year, I wish to end my senior year knowing we did everything we could to help change kids’ health and change the future. Your generous donations go directly to the hospital and help us pay for Big Event costs such as rental fees for the gym, decorations, hotels for the families, and food for participants. However, the bonds formed between our students, Miracle Children, and families have proven to go well beyond any monetary amount. If you ask any IlliniThon member why they became part of our organization, most will answer “FTK” or “For The Kids.” As IlliniThon members, we pride ourselves in creating a family that gives every student at U of I an opportunity to create lifelong friendships and memories while providing hope for the kids at St. John’s Hospital. With that in mind, I encourage you to explore our website, get to know our Executive Board, peer into moments from our past events, see what is coming up in the future, and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Together, we can foster a future that betters the life of every child in Illinois.

 

On behalf of IlliniThon and the families of HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital, thank you for your continued support and generousity! Let’s all make IlliniThon 2025-26 the best year yet!

 

Kids Can’t Wait,

 

Ali Sommer

IlliniThon President