Our History
2005
Amount Raised: $1,500.00
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $1,500.00
Milestones/Celebrations:
- The first PUDM lasted 12 hours and took place in the Armory. Participants were served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for meals
2006
Amount Raised: $25,500.00
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $27,000.00
Milestones/Celebrations:
- Judson Laipply came and performed his infamous "Evolution of Dance" which was number #1 most watched YouTube video until Gangnam Style
- Bruce the Piano Man also also played at the marathon for the first time
- PUDM gets its logo!
2007
Amount Raised: $57,800.00
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $84,800.00
Milestones/Celebrations:
- The PUDM 2007 Executive Board was the first board to attend the national Dance Marathon conference, held in Kansas City.
- In 2007, PUDM created and maintained its first website.
- PUDM held it's first 5K.
- We had color coordinated shirts this year and first time we had enough dancers to break into groups - This was the first year that PUDM ever did Color Tracks and Color Wars.
- Many of exec board worked at Bradford Woods (Camp Riley) the prior summer. On our camp soundtrack was Dream Big, which is where we introduced the song to the Exec, which later became the circle song. The first ever Dream Big circle!
2008
Amount Raised: $75,491.00
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $160,291.00
Milestones/Celebrations:
- PUDM 2008 saw the first addition of a VP Finance to the Presidential Board.
- Morale creates the PUDM backdrop sign for the marathon.
- PUDM holds it's first mini marathon/high school marathon.
2009
Amount Raised: $101,550.90
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $261,841.90
Milestones/Celebrations:
- This marathon took place in the old CoRec instead of the Armory.
- In 2009, PUDM was dedicated to the memory of John Romine. FarmHouse attended the marathon for the first time and thus started the annual head shaving event at the marathon. This year also started the annual bone marrow drive in honor of John.
2010 (Spring)
Amount Raised: $143,221.85
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $405,063.75
Milestones/Celebrations:
- PUDM 2010 (Spring) was the first marathon to host the Riley kid talent show, a tradition still today!
2010 (Fall)
Amount Raised: $172,528.34
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $577,592.09
Milestones/Celebrations:
- PUDM 2010 (Fall) was the second marathon of the year, and the first time PUDM was celebrated in the fall. Although the Executive Board only had 8 months to plan the event, they still managed to increase their fundraising total by $29,306.49.
- The marathon took place in the Armory, again, because the CoRec was under construction at the time.
2011
Amount Raised: $303,562.82
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $881,154.91
Milestones/Celebrations:
- Became the first student org to win a One Brick Higher Award from President Cordova.
- Won a Miracle Maker Award from CMN for the first time.
- Planned a detailed Opening Ceremony for the first time.
- Added a rave to the marathon
Morale Mix
2012
Amount Raised: $528,654.67
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $1,409,809.58
Milestones/Celebrations:
- Moved the Marathon from the Armory to the new Frances A. Cordova Recreational Center. First time the marathon was taking place in multiple gyms instead of just one location at the Armory (so planning for multiple things going on during rotations).
- PUDMA was formed this year (Chris Gecewicz).
- PUDM wins "Best Opening Ceremony" and another Miracle Maker award from CMN!
Morale Mix
2013
"Army of Hope"
Amount Raised: $1,000,471.03
PUDM Running Total(All Years): $2,410,280.61
Milestones/Celebrations:
- Hitting $1 million – At the time, we were the youngest Dance Marathon program in the country to raise $1 million FTK
Morale Mix
2014
"The B1G Marathon"
Amount Raised: $1,002,510.28
PUDM Running Total(All Years): $3,412,790.89
Milestones/Celebrations:
- PUDM 2014 organized the first Day of Miracles with a goal of $50,000. They surpassed this goal, raising $58,080.59 all in 24 hours FTK.
- 10 Years of PUDM (click to see the video)
Morale Mix
2015
"Celebrate With Us"
Amount Raised: $1,101,297.26
PUDM Running Total(All Years): $4,514,008.15
Milestones/Celebrations:
- Hit capacity for the marathon - 2,150 registered participants
- Rebranded to gold and black (logo).
- 2nd day of miracles ever & broke 6 figures. ("$100K 1 day")
- Founding year of the "train horn" for in-event fundraising.
Morale Mix
2016
"Building Hope"
Amount Raised: $1,060,247.16
PUDM Running Total(All Years): $5,574,335.31
Milestones/Celebrations:
- The Special Events committee organized and hosted the first ever Marathon Exclusive event as well as the first Riley kid birthday party in marathon.
- This was the first year for the Chair position.
- Won the PUDM/IUDM Old Riley Bucket Challenge.
- First FTKolor Run
Morale Mix
2017
"Mission to Miracles"
Amount Raised: $1,125,293.19
PUDM Running Total(All Years): $6,699,628.50
Milestones/Celebrations:
- Strategically planned for the addition of a VP Membership (+ Stewardship Executive, Dancer Relations Executive, & Development Executive) position (to be implemented in 2018).
- Won the PUDM/IUDM Old Riley Bucket Fundraising Challenge
- Created the Champion Program for new member onboarding, mentorship, education, & engagement in the fall.
- Created annual theme for Day of Miracles – Gold for pediatric cancer awareness
Morale Mix
2018
"Explore What's Possible"
Amount Raised: $1,207,476.23
PUDM Running Total(All Years): $7,907,105.29
Milestones/Celebrations:
- Tyler Trent became the highest individual fundraiser for Riley Dance Marathons ever and the highest individual for Children’s Miracle Network for 2018
- Record number of Riley Families attended PUDM
- Record breaking fundraising numbers on 100 Days and Day of Miracles
- Purdue Crew Boat was hoisted into the loft of the co-rec for the Riley Kid Birthday Party
- Pat McAfee emceed Riley Kid Talent Show
Morale Mix
2019
"Live the Legacy"
Amount Raised: $1,065,610.23
Running Total: $8,972,714.97
Milestones/Celebrations:
- 15th year of PUDM!
- The Purdue Basketball team emceed the Riley Kid Talent Show
- PUDM won the Old Riley Bucket challenge against IU
- The “Live the Legacy” Campaign video went viral on Twitter
- Fishers HS became the 3rd highest fundraising HSDM in the country
- First Summer Campaign: More than Four
- Live the Legacy theme honored our four PUDM legacies
- Opening of the T2 Student Gate in honor of Tyler Trent, and PUDM camped out with the Ross Ade Brigade in honor of Tyler’s camp out in 2017.
- Funding the Tyler Trent Endowment at Riley Hospital for the first time
- 500 people signed up for Be the Match at the Marathon
Creation of the Financial Development Executive
Morale Mix
2020
"Discover Your Dream"
Fundraising Total: $771,158.23
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $9,743,873.20
Milestones/Celebrations:
- First Marathon during a pandemic!
- Fundraising won the first ever Miracle Madness Challenge!
- Summer Campaign: You Have Us
- PUDM won a DMLC award for our Donor Stewardship Program
- Record-breaking numbers across the board on Day of Miracles
- Takeover Tuesdays started on Instagram. This is when an Exec “takes over” the PUDM Instagram and shares what they do throughout one day.
- Hospital Relations Chair was added to Development
Morale Mix
2021
"Everyday Heroes Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders"
Fundraising Total: $689,438.23
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $10,433,311.43
Milestones/Celebrations:
- PUDM's running total broke $10 million!
- First in-person marathon since COVID
- Lack of gyms in CoRec made for wild layout
- Highest amount raised by executives ever!
- Received a LOVE'S Sponsorship
- The Tyler Trent power hour reached the goal of $10,300 within 30 minutes AND broke the record for the most fundraised during a single hour in-event in PUDM history raising over $17,000!
- Lost access to Krach Lawn hours before marathon, had to think fast and eat inside Krach
Morale Mix
2022
"Moments to Miracles"
Fundraising Total: $665,182.23
PUDM Running Total (All Years): $11,098,493.66
Milestones/Celebrations
- Celebration of the life of Braylie Kellogg, PUDM's 5th legacy
- First fully operational in-person marathon since the pandemic, with the addition of the TREC as an activity space
- First in-person Dance Marathon Leadership Conference since the pandemic
- Record-breaking in-event fundraising!
- Highest amount raised by executives ever, topping 2021
- Second-highest amount raised by executives and chairs during the marathon
- The inaugural PUDM Prom was hosted this year
Morale Mix
