A very excited Jay Sims shows off the final total!

Wow! What a weekend for the dedicated students at Northwestern University who danced for 30 hours raising $854,396 for StandUp for Kids, from March 5-7. There was so much energy in the tent at Norris Center that even outside you could hear the students singing along to their favorite anthems “Sweet Caroline,” “Jump Around,” and “I gotta Feeling,” just to name a few. Culminating at 1:00am March 7, with DJ Jay Sims playing another favorite “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” following the very emotional check presentation to StandUp for Kids to a teary-eyed Rick Koca, the founder of the organization.

Every year when I attend I am so moved by these students who not only raise money, but raise awareness for so many worthwhile charities. What a difference these students make by putting on their dancing shoes to support a great cause.  And even at 1:00am, exhausted and sleep deprived…they all manage to end the night with smiles on their faces.  We can all gain inspiration from them!