Use the arrows or hover over the timeline to explore our history
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
1999
- Raised more than $40,000 for the kids
- Featured more than 100 dancers and 200 volunteers
- Utilized efforts of 71 UNC-CH campus organizations
2000
- Increased fundraising total to more than $70,000
- Established the For the Kids Fund, allowing the UNC Dance Marathon to give 100% of fundraising total to N.C. Children’s Hospital
- Featured more than 150 dancers and 250 volunteers
- Fundraising efforts all year from more than 100 campus organizations
- Started the UNC Dance Marathon Silent Auction, raising over $10,000 for the kids
2001
- Donated more than $100,000 to the For the Kids Fund
- Featured more than 400 dancers, 300 volunteers, and more than 1,000 spectators
- Surprise appearance by UNC alumnus and Olympic Gold Medalist Mia Hamm, who thanked the dancers for their commitment to the hospital
- Sponsored by Title Sponsor Chick-Fil-A at University Mall and Gold Ram Sponsor McAlister’s Deli
- Endorsed by Chapel Hill Mayor Rosemary Waldorf, who proclaimed February 18-23 Dance Marathon Week in Chapel Hill
2002
- Donated more than $120,000 to the For the Kids Fund
- Featured more than 550 dancers and 400 volunteers and moralers
- Live performances from more than 25 student groups
- Sponsored by Platinum sponsor Chic-Fil-A and Gold Sponsors McAlister’s Deli, Durham Americans Baseball Club, UNC Hospitals Printing, The Carolina Inn and Carolina Dining Services
2003
- Donated more than $167,000 to the For the Kids Fund
- Featured more than 550 dancers and 300 volunteers
- Established the Benefit Reception and Silent Auction to bring community members together in support of N.C. Children’s Hospital
- Started new fundraising efforts that included local donation boxes, a Powder-Puff Tournament, a Faculty Event at sponsor West End Wine Bar
- Increased student volunteer activity in the hospital with the
- Neo-Natal Unit Reunion, UNC hospital’s Radiothon, and a Christmas Toy Drive
2004
- Donated more than $170,000 to the For the Kids Fund
- Featured more than 500 dancers and 300 volunteers
- Appearance by UNC Head Basketball Coach Roy Williams at Marathon
- Special Performance by Legendary Beach Music Band The Embers
2005
- Donated more than $184,000 to the For the Kids Fund
- Featured more than 600 dancers and 400 volunteers and moralers
- Enhanced “Battle of the Bands” fundraiser, with winning band scoring an hour onstage at the UNC Dance Marathon in February
- Introduced “Turn It Blue” campaign, selling “Turn it Blue” wristbands to UNC fans all over the country
2006
- Donated more than $200,000 to the For the Kids Fund
- Featured more than 750 dancers and 450 volunteers and moralers
- Supported by many new corporate sponsors, including Bojangles, the title sponsor
- Began new partnerships with the Cardiac Care Center and the Hematology-Oncology divisions of N.C. Children’s Hospital
- Reached a fund-raising total of more than $1 million over 8 years
2007
- Donated more than $236,000 to the For the Kids Fund
- Featured more than 800 dancers and 600 volunteers and moralers
- Gained continuing support from the surrounding community, including Carrabba's our 2007 Title Sponsor
- Extended our divisional partnerships to include the Newborn Critical Care Center within the Division of Neonatal Medicine
- Increased our fundraising total to more than $1.3 million
2008
- Celebrated our 10th anniversary with returning Overall Committee alumni
- Surprise appearance by comedian Will Ferrell
- Donated more than $300,000 to N.C. Children’s Hospital
2009
- Donated more than $394,000 to the hospital
- Started a relationship with divisions at N.C. Children’s Hospital through grants such as N.C. Children’s Center for Clinical Excellence, focused on improving pediatric critical care.
2010
- Had 1,600 students pledge to dance in the 12th UNC Dance Marathon
- Established the kid co-captain program, with 9 kids helping lead the 24 dancer teams
- Donated more than $421,000 to the hospital, increasing our fundraising total to more than $2.4 million.
2011
- Had 1,600 students pledge to dance, and 500 moralers and volunteers
- Had 24 kid co-captains
- Introduced merchandise and text-to-donate programs
- Raised more than $436,000 for N.C. Children’s Hospital for a total of more than $2.8 million.
2012
- A record 2,000 students signed up to dance
- Dancers got to know and interact with 22 or 25 kid co-captains through videos and blogs
- Started N.C. Children's Hospital's first Pediatric Palliative Care Program
- Hosted the 10th annual Benefit Reception
- Raised more than $483,000 for patients and families at N.C. Children's Hospital for a total of more than $3.3 million
- Hosted the 1st annual 5K FTK
2013
- Hosted the 11th annual Benefit Reception
- Raised $430, 181.68
- Hosted the 2nd annual 5K FTK
2014
- Raised $551,595.87, which passed the half-million mark for the first time in UNCDM history!
- Hosted the 12th annual Benefit Reception
- Hosted the 3rd annual 5K FTK, now named Kilometers For The Kids and including a 10K race for the first time!
2015
- Officially changed the name of the organization from UNC Dance Marathon to Carolina For The Kids
- Hosted the first ever For(mal) the Kids
2016
- Raised $614,717.71 for the kids, setting the record for our largest fundraising year ever!
- Hosted the 13th annual Benefit Reception
2017
- Raised over $420,000 for the kids!
- Hosted the first ever FTK Fest
- Hosted the 14th annual Benefit Reception
2018
- Raised over $430,000 for the kids!
- Hosted the 15th annual Benefit Reception
2019
- Raised over $440,000 for the kids!
- Hosted the 16th annual Benefit Reception