DemonTHON, DePaul’s annual student-led fundraiser, is already preparing for the annual 12-hour dance marathon benefiting Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

The main event takes place April 18 and includes a celebration of DePaul students as well as a chance to help raise tens of thousands of dollars in donations. DemonTHON organizers also hosted a blanket-making event on Jan. 28 for the hospital.

As students knotted blankets together, the sound of soft pop music in the background overlapped with conversations and laughter. The event offered students a hands-on way to contribute to the fundraiser while creating comfort items for patients at the hospital.

Ella Arnes, a sophomore studying film and television, said participating in events, like blanket tying, makes the cause feel personal.

“I just like being involved with DemonTHON because I think it’s a good cause,” Arnes said. “My roommates are a part of it, so I always like to participate when I can.”

She and other students said the event served as a social gathering and a reminder of DemonTHON’s larger mission.  

Andrew Johnson, vice president of DemonTHON, said the group has already exceeded fundraising and registration goals that began in the fall. He believes this success comes from making a consistent effort to connect with students throughout campus. 

“Autumn quarter, we kicked it off really strong with a pop up thrift store event that took place in the student center atrium and a Halloween bake sale with success that we haven’t seen in many years,” Johnson said.

Johnson said DePaul DemonTHON has raised $16,000 so far this year and usually raises between $22,000 and $25,000 annually, with fundraising efforts from its sister high school, Barrington High School, contributing to the organization’s annual $100,000 goal. Almost every dance marathon in the nation has one or more sister high schools to advise and help carry out fundraising.

Looking for another successful quarter, Johnson said DemonTHON has several upcoming events in preparation for the main April event. 

There will be another thrift store pop-up event where all the proceeds will go to the Lurie Children’s Hospital and a bouquet-making event on Feb. 12, as well as the Fraternity and Sorority Life Olympics, also known as the FSL Olympics, all smaller events throughout the year that help fundraising efforts for the hospital. 

Arnes, the sophomore at the blanket-making event, said she has been involved with DemonTHON before, including participation in last year’s dance marathon and helping with fundraising efforts earlier this school year. “The Big Event” is a 12-hour long celebration of DePaul’s fundraising efforts filled with dancing, performances and games taking place every spring in the Student Center. 

While students like Arnes participate in DemonTHON events throughout the year, others contribute by helping to create and organize those events.

Stephen Rothchild, a marketing student who is the programming ambassador for center for sales leadership, a branch of the marketing department at DePaul, said attending the blanket-making event also gave him an opportunity to support the cause in a different way.

“I thought this would be a great cause to collaborate with and get the word out,” Rothchild said.

 Rothchild said his experience attending DemonTHON’s annual The Big Event for the first time last year motivated him to support DemonTHON through event planning and outreach. 

Rothchild said he believes that spreading the word, especially to students, is crucial to help achieve fundraising goals.

Last year, DemonTHON brought in about $115,000 for the hospital. Rothchild thinks they could make it to $130,000 with increased awareness.

With The Big Event approaching, DemonTHON organizers say that the momentum built throughout the smaller events this year will carry the campus toward the biggest fundraising event of the year.

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