A popular teen event that has promoted healthy, violence-free relationships for decades is canceled for this year.
After reaching what organizers call a difficult decision, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services is now facing “a significant loss (of about $100,000) that we have to figure out how to make up,” agency president Lisa Shafran said.
In February, 2020, 715 Bartholomew County high school students attended the 21st annual Dance Marathon at Central Middle School. Due in part to the elimination of a $20 admission fee, turnout at the overnight party last year was about 53% higher than in 2019.
However, money was raised in other ways. Many of the 130 student organizers raised at least $100 a piece through their own unique fundraising efforts. In addition, Turning Point received funding from several individual and corporate donors.
But just a few weeks after last year’s festivities, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged that is still closing down nearly every public event with large attendance.
This year, a small group of student organizers and Turning Point staff came up with the concept of a scaled-back version of the Dance Marathon called the Dance Mini-thon, Shafran said. A number of plans were being developed to allow a limited number of students into different parts of the festivities, as well as enjoying prizes and food, she said.
Up until a short time ago, it appeared the spread of the virus had slowed enough to allow the festivities to take place.
But the decision to cancel was reached less than a week after Bartholomew County Health Officer Dr. Brian Niedbalski revealed the spread of the COVID-19 virus remains at a high rate per capita in Columbus and surrounding areas.
“It seems that (with COVID-19), things change every day regarding what you can or cannot do,” Shafran said. “Our decision was purely made with safety in mind.”
The Turning Point president expressed her appreciation to the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. for working closely with her agency on the event. She emphasized the decision to cancel the Dance Mini-thon was made solely by her organization.
However, the good news is that work is already underway in planning smaller, more focused opportunities to engage local teens in healthy relationship education, Shafran said.
“With prevention programming being the goal of Dance Marathon, all involved find it imperative to provide activities for Bartholomew County youth during the remainder of this school year and into the summer,” Turning Point staff members wrote in a statement.
Alternative activities might include virtual platforms that reach out to students, as well as outdoor events that allow interactions without compromising social distancing as the weather gets warmer, Shafran said.
“All of us at Turning Point are optimistically looking toward February 2022, and being able to gather again for a Dance Marathon,” she said.
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Staff members at Turning Point Domestic Violence Services say they are thankful and encouraged by the support received by Dance Marathon sponsors. For many years, several of the businesses, organizations, individuals and volunteers have supported the event that reaches out to teens to promote healthy, violence-free relationships.
Turning Point is seeking sponsors interested in making monetary donations to continue prevention programming. Businesses and individuals may contact Elisabeth Jones, Vice President of Resource Development, at [email protected].
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