Community Corner
TEAM JOSEPH, EVANSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECEIVE RECORD BREAKING $1,385,273 FROM NUDM
Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) raised a record-breaking $1,385,273 in cash and in-kind donations this weekend during the annual 30-hour dance marathon, benefitting primary beneficiary Team Joseph and secondary beneficiary Evanston Community Foundation.
West Bloomfield-based Team Joseph aims to find a treatment or cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal disease that affects one in every 3,500 boys.
At the culmination of the 30 hours, the NUDM Executive Board presented a check to Team Joseph for $931,289.21. “You are helping us turn heartache into hope, and fear into fuel, and pain into passion,” said Marissa Penrod, founder and CEO of Team Joseph, during a speech to dancers. “We will defeat Duchenne.”
Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the event represents a yearlong effort to raise money and awareness about Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Morethan 1,000 dancers and 300 committee members remained in the tent for all 30 hours. Students, faculty and community members as well as hundreds of representatives from both Team Joseph and NUDM’s secondary beneficiary, the Evanston Community Foundation, visited the event.
In addition to the fundraising milestones, numerous celebrities and public figures sent in videos to encourage dancers throughout the event—including U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In a video message to dancers at the outset of the event, President Obama said, “Thank you for making a difference to the life of your community, and your country.” He added, “Get dancing, good luck, and Go ‘Cats!”
Other celebrities who provide words of support included Seth Meyers, Adam Sandler, and an in-character cast of ABC’s Scandal.
About Duchenne muscular dystrophy:
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rapidly progressing degenerative genetic muscle disorder, primarily affecting young boys, which causes loss of muscle mobility and function. In fact, 99 percent of the almost 20,000 new cases each year are boys; meaning 1 boy out of every 3,500 will be diagnosed. There currently is no treatment or cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
About Team Joseph:
Team Joseph is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to aggressively fund cutting-edge research to find a treatment or cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Formed around the fight of Joseph Penrod, Team Joseph began with a mom who wouldn’t let her son be defined by his diagnosis, and with the support of family, friends and an army of volunteers, has evolved into the movement it is today. For more information about Team Joseph, visit www.TeamJoseph.info.
ABOUT NUDM
For more information about NUDM, please visit www.nudm.org. For more information about NUDM’s beneficiaries, visit Team Joseph’s website at www.teamjoseph.info and Evanston Community Foundation’s website at www.evcommfdn.org.
