Knight-Thon: A Legacy of Miracles at UCF

Introduction

Knight-Thon at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is a student-led Dance Marathon, part of a national movement raising funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. UCF's Knight-Thon specifically supports Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Over the years, Knight-Thon has grown into UCF's largest student-driven philanthropy, uniting students, faculty, staff, and the wider community in a collective effort to improve the lives of children and their families.

The History of Knight-Thon at UCF

Knight-Thon has been an active part of UCF for over two decades, with the 26th year being celebrated this spring. The organization has deep roots within the UCF community, fostering a spirit of giving and unity among students from various backgrounds and interests.

Early Years and Growth

Since its inception 22 years ago, Knight-Thon has donated over $5 million. As UCF grew, so did Knight-Thon, expanding its reach and impact on the local community.

A Record-Breaking Year

Notably, the event’s history of excellence includes the 2018 milestone when an astounding $1,585,698.22 was raised, ranking it among the nation’s top dance marathons.

Overcoming Challenges

In 2020, Knight-Thon’s in-person dance marathon was canceled 10 days before it was supposed to be held as UCF moved to remote operations, and students quickly adapted to host a virtual event.

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Knight-Thon's Impact on Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

Every cent raised by Knight-Thon goes towards the hospital’s greatest need at the time, ensuring that children receive the best possible care. The funds raised through Knight-Thon directly impact the lives of patients and their families at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Funding Critical Needs

The current funding will be strategically reinvested to expand event programming, increase awareness, and further enhance support services at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. This infusion of funds will enhance the resources available for patients and their families, ultimately fostering healthier futures and brighter communities.

Supporting Miracle Families

Main Event is where our participants learn about our impact via miracle children's stories. Miracle Children are children who were or are patients who received funds from our dance marathon. During these presentations, which often grew graphic and emotional, Knight-Thon participants were expected to kneel on the dance floor in commemoration of each family’s pain and perseverance.

The Knight-Thon Experience

Knight-Thon's main event is a 20-hour dance marathon. Participants vow not to sit for the duration of the event, in solidarity with the kids in local hospitals whose fight is ongoing. Every hour on the hour, students partake in the “Morale” dance, but there’s much more to the dance marathon. At the event, participants can look forward to a hypnotist, silent disco, and of course, appearances by miracle families (the families of the children treated at APH) where they tell their story of treatment at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Fundraising Initiatives

On Tuesday, campus will be filled with students armed with yellow Knight-Thon buckets ready to raise money "For The Kids." In the Union, students will be invited to donate $1 to sign a paper Miracle balloon and place it on the Knight-Thon banner to show they're FTK. Registered dancers can guess how much money Knight-Thon will raise in a certain amount of time and place their guess in a jar. Each guess is $1, and whoever submits the correct amount for their guess wins the sum of the funds to go into their personal Knight-Thon donor drive. Expanding the cause around and off campus, local business will have donation buckets displayed on Tuesday for people to donate. The locations include: HenriGirl, Bar Louie, Z Baked, Burger 21, Five Guys, Burger Fi and Pop Parlour.

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Morale and Spirit

Morale is the spirit squad of Knight-Thon. You can see Moralers (people on the team) fundraising at UCF's different campuses and uplifting both participants and volunteers. Each year, Morale creates a five to eight-minute dance taught at Main Event. Main Event is the culmination of a year's fundraising efforts. Main Event occurs in the Spring Semester. Before Main Event, Knight-Thon hosts different events throughout the year like Moraleoween or Moralentines Day.

Adapting to New Circumstances

Due to COVID, Knight-Thon has taken safety measures to ensure the safety of participants and volunteers. For the past two years, Knight-Thon's Main Events have occurred outdoors to ensure social distancing measures.

How to Get Involved

There are many ways for UCF students and community members to get involved with Knight-Thon. From becoming a dancer to joining an impact team, there's a place for everyone who wants to support the cause.

Becoming a Dancer

When asked how someone on campus can get involved Z says, “being a dancer [participant] is a great way to start just to see if Knight-Thon is something they can get behind.

Joining an Impact Team

For someone who loves children’s health, event planning, or finance-joining an impact team is a really great place to start.

Knight-Thon: A Personal Perspective

Here is one student's Knight-Thon story:I became a part of Knight-Thon during my freshman year via my fraternity AEPi. Knight-Thon had a free sign-up day, and I enrolled that day. When I went to my first main event, I saw how you and Alyssa G. (my girl-big in Zeta Tau Alpha) were engaging with the student body. I knew that I wanted to join Morale afterward. Since my sophomore year, I have been a part of Morale. This year I serve as a Morale Captain.

The Future of Knight-Thon

Knight-Thon is poised to continue its legacy of impact at UCF, with plans to expand its reach, increase awareness, and enhance support services for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. As UCF continues to grow and evolve, Knight-Thon will remain a vital part of the university community, uniting students and community members in a collective effort to make a difference in the lives of children and families.

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