KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 30, 2017

Benefit held for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

KSU Miracle’s 12-hour dance marathon attracted 500 students, alumni and community members on March 25. During the past 12 months of this year’s campaign, more than 1,000 people raised $215,129, three times the amount collected last year for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA).

In recognition of the group’s successful drive, areas within the new Town Center extension of CHOA will be named the KSU Miracle OT/PT Speech Therapy Rehabilitation Center and Central Miracle Sports Medicine Rehabilitation Gym. The facility, set to open next year, is located across from Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

Ryann Miller, a junior psychology major who led this year’s KSU Miracle, has a personal connection to the cause. She comes from a family of 12, which includes seven adopted special-needs children who benefit from the services of CHOA.

“We were so happy that President Sam Olens visited the event and spoke to the students,” Miller said.

“Miss Georgia Patricia Ford also came and enjoyed being with the students, some of the Miracle kids and their families.”

Jennifer Tesch, coordinator of Student Center Operations in Student Life, said KSU Miracle has had 10 successful years of supporting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

“The members of KSU Miracle have been fundraising for the past decade, holding events like car washes, bake sales, and the annual dance marathon,” Tesch said. “One of our students, Payton Hutto, was our morale chair this year and choreographed the special 10-minute line dance that the rows and rows of people took part in at the event.

“The line dance is done every year at the end of the dance marathon as an act to show everyone that KSU Miracle will dance for the kids that can’t and do everything they can to create opportunities for healing the children that are patients at CHOA.”

The annual marathon’s special dance was held in the Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center.

– Robert S. Godlewski

Photos by Olivia Tyler, Nevin McRay and Hayden Mathis

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.