More than 500 students danced the night away Saturday at the Turning Point Dance Marathon at Central Middle School.
That’s better than a 30 percent increase in teen participation over last year’s 380 students, said Lisa Shafran, president of Columbus-based Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.
Dance Marathon, with 12 straight hours of nearly uninterrupted dancing, is the oldest student-led fundraiser in Columbus, having run for 17 straight years. Money raised by the event goes to domestic violence-prevention programs and day-to-day operation of the organization’s domestic violence shelter.
Improving attendance was one of the event’s major goals for this year, Shafran said. While it did not hit the 750-participant goal, organizers are happy with the number of teenagers who turned out, she said.
More people also means more money, Shafran said. The group was able to gross $187,000 before expenses, shattering a fundraising goal of $120,000, she said.
Expenses include three $2,000 scholarships awarded in random drawings to Columbus seniors Bryn Eudy and Nia Pontius of Columbus East High School, and John Waddle of New Tech High School.
