On Tuesday, Feb. 25, NOVAdance participated in the annual UDance Day. This annual fundraising event is a friendly competition between Villanova University’s NOVAdance and the University of Delaware’s UDance program. This year, both organizations raised a combined $218,851 during the 24-hour fundraising period.
Last year, NOVAdance and UDance raised a combined $155,000. Both organizations promote year-long efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer in support of the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. The university that raises the most money per capita in 24 hours earns an extra $10,000. The University of Delaware won the competition this year.
“The rallying of both schools to reach the total is amazing and would not be possible without participation from students all over campus,” NOVAdance Director of Recruitment Jack Pane said.
The Villanova organizations that raised the most money on UDance Day were the NOVAdance Committee, NOVAdance Sidekicks, NOVAdance Engagement Coordinators, Chi Omega sorority, Kappa Delta sorority and Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
“For the past four years, NOVAdance has received the most money per capita and won,” NOVAdance Director of Public Relations Haley Smith said. “Similar to last year, the NOVAdance Executive Team created a dare thermometer that once a certain fundraising total has been reached, we will all do various dares.”
In an effort to encourage fundraising, many NOVAdance members pledged to participate in dares once they reached their target values. These goals ranged from the executive board participating in an ice bucket challenge, getting tattoos or piercings, or running 24 miles in 24 hours. NOVAdance Committee members tabled at the Oreo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday to perform many of these dares while sharing the goals for the day with the student body.
“This year I decided to bike one mile for every five dollars I fundraised,” Morale Committee Color Captain John Tropeano said. “In total I ended up capping out at 100 miles. Sure it was difficult, but it was absolutely nothing compared to a child battling cancer. It’s that mindset, to come at every challenge with a positive attitude that really forms the meaning behind NOVAdance.”
NOVAdance members were also highly encouraged to reach out to family and friends via emails and text messages to gain donations. For emails, the average return rate is 55%, with an average donation per response being $118, leading to an average return of $944 when sending 15 emails. One additional strategy that has been utilized by the NOVAdance Committee for the past two UDance competitions is reaching out to the NOVAdance alumni network.
“Graphics were sent out Sunday & Monday to various teams within NOVAdance Committee,” Smith said. “We had a video made by the media team, a video from Jay Wright and some TikToks clapping back at UDance social media posts.”
The friendly competition between NOVAdance and UDance allows for 200 families with children battling pediatric cancer to gain financial support from the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.
“With only a month to go until the Day of, UDance Day definitely prepares us for a successful last month of fundraising,” Pane said. “The day also helps us and members of NOVAdance to understand just how high our fundraising total is with buy-in from everyone.”
NOVAdance members will continue to fundraise and spread the “Be Positive” message on campus leading up to the 12-hour dance marathon that will take place on Saturday, March 29.
