BY ERIN LAUGHLIN
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

UAS students and members of the Juneau community cut a rug Saturday, March 25 to provide clean water for children and families in third world countries at the first UAS Dance Marathon.

The event was spearheaded and hosted by Radio UAS’s Felix Thillet. Thillet hopes that it will become an annual event.

Event attendees were able to raise $848 for the global organization World Vision, which focuses on humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy in third world countries.

According to Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities, World Vision’s financial stewardship model directly works with communities in need, and invests in global systems “stretching the power of the dollar.”

The World Vision website says “For every $1 donated to World Vision, 60 cents is sent to local community programs. The rest of the dollar is invested in global systems, such as development experts, disaster readiness, donated goods, and reliable systems. That investment generates 70 cents worth of grants and donated goods.”

UAS’s $848 raised turns in to $1,102.40 through World Vision’s financial stewardship.

The marathon ran from noon to midnight with 16 registered dancers.

Radio UAS chose World Vision for their support of disadvantaged children and previous positive experiences with the organization said Thillet.

Thillet believes the 2017 marathon was Radio UAS’s “guinea pig” year, testing marketing and student interest at the Juneau campus.

“I was inspired by my pervious school’s [Penn State] successful dance marathon which combined fun and social activism. I also wanted to unite UAS and the community in a positive way” said Thillet.

The event was also supported by other UAS student organizations.

Student government provided t-shirts to participants, and the student activities board contributed food and volunteers at the event.

For more information on future Radio UAS events visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/radiouasak.