By Abby Cloud

There are numerous student service organizations at Florida State University that actively work year-round to raise money and gain support from the FSU and Tallahassee community. Whether it’s a day of community service or a donation that goes towards bettering the University or other organizations, many students have found a passion for each event that they partake in. 

Here is a glimpse at the events taking place this spring and how you can support them. 

Dance Marathon at FSU, March 6-8. During the first weekend in March, over 1,800 students are prepared to stand for over 40 hours in support of Children’s Miracle Network, Dance Marathon, and our local organization, Dance Marathon at FSU. 

Dance Marathon at FSU is the “largest student-run philanthropy in the southeastern region of the United States,” and has collectively raised over $10 million for Shands Children’s Hospital and FSU’s College of Medicine’s Pediatric Outreach Programs.

At the actual event, students participate in one of two “shifts” throughout the weekend and experience fun activities, entertainment, and hear from Dance Marathon at FSU’s Miracle Families. This year, Dance Marathon at FSU is celebrating 25 years of fundraising. 

If you have a student participating in Dance Marathon at FSU, you can visit them to bring them food or other necessities as they complete their 20 hour shift, or come see the total reveal on Sunday. 

If you don’t have a student involved and you’re looking to donate to this cause, you can do so through this link. 

FSU’s Great Give, March 24-25. FSU’s Great Give will commence its ninth year of fundraising for Florida State University affiliated programs, organizations, activities, and scholarships. For a total of 36 hours, FSU supporters are encouraged to contribute to this online giving campaign that takes place starting at 9am on Tuesday, March 24 and ends at 9pm on Wednesday, March 25.

Last year, FSU’s Great Give exceeded their $500,000 goal and raised $774,979. With a donation from FSU supporters programs and organizations like many of FSU’s colleges, academic affairs, affiliated campuses or areas, and more can benefit. 

If you wish to donate to this event, make sure you do so during the specified time in order for your gift to count towards the overall total. During the allotted time for fundraising, see if your student is advocating for a specific program and consider donating there. 

You can stay updated with FSU’s Great Give, donate, and watch the progress of the actively fundraising programs and organizations on their website through this link. 

The Big Event Tallahassee, March 28. Deemed the “largest, one-day, student-run service project in Tallahassee,” The Big Event Tallahassee allows for thousands of college students from not only FSU, but also Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College, to give back to their communities through a day of volunteering and service. 

Serving as volunteers for the day, college students in Tallahassee can partner with over 100 different service sites in the Tallahassee area as they go about giving back to a community that offers so much to them. 

For students participating in this event, you can support them or The Big Event by cheering them on as they complete their projects, partnering with The Big Event as a sponsor, or registering a service site.

To learn more and stay updated on The Big Event Tallahassee, you can visit their website through this link. 

Relay for Life of FSU, April 4. Next month, many students are looking forward to joining the 5th largest Collegiate Relay Event in the Nation as they fundraise for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life of FSU has announced a goal of $100,000 for this year, and they are just a couple thousand away from reaching a miraculous milestone in their 2020 Relay for Life. 

The year-long fundraising efforts of Relay for Life of FSU culminates to an event that starts on a Saturday afternoon and extends well into the early morning hours as students and volunteers raise money for the American Cancer Society and awareness for those who are affected by cancer.

If you want to support your student that is participating in this event, you can come visit them at some point during the event or show up for their total reveal at the end of their year’s worth of fundraising. 

For those looking to support Relay for Life of FSU but you don’t have someone you know personally participating, you can donate to Relay for Life of FSU through this link.