The 18th annual Dance Marathon brought in an estimated $137,000 for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services last weekend, pushing the amount of funds raised since the event’s inception to $1 million.
Proceeds from this year’s event will be used for Turning Point programming, which benefits youths and victims of domestic violence, with student education a top focus, said Lisa Shafran, the Columbus-based agency’s president.
The 12-hour event, which began Saturday at Central Middle School, was attended by 520 high school students this year, Shafran said. Three $2,000 scholarships were awarded to Columbus North High School senior Marina Hughes and Columbus East High School seniors Grace Hatton and Ben Westenberger.
The fundraising event got its start in 2000 after Columbus East High School students planned the first dance marathon as part of a senior project.
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