Last April, D219 Dance Marathon students sat in a circle to decide the new beneficiary they would support. According to senior and Dance Marathon executive Robbie Divelbess, students were looking for three things in the nominees: a cause local to the area, a beneficiary that could be aided significantly by Dance Marathon’s grant, and volunteer opportunities for club members. Three organizations presented to Dance Marathon members, and one stuck out, winning the vote of students: Chicago Refugee Coalition.
“Refugees are just near to people’s hearts at Niles North,” Dance Marathon sponsor Laura Wright said. “So many students in our population have parents who came from other countries or who were refugees themselves. I think that’s one of the reasons they chose it, and I also think that [refugees] see an immediate need in the community.”
Based in Roger’s Park, Chicago Refugee Coalition’s mission is to provide “dignity-centered relief” for refugees in the Chicagoland area. As a coalition, the nonprofit works with numerous organizations in Chicago to provide relief to thousands of refugees. Chicago Refugee Coalition has served over 250,000 meals and distributes over $500,000 in donated items annually since the coalition was founded in 2018.
Chicago Refugee Coalition’s founders stuck out to Dance Marathon students with their passion and commitment to their cause.
“The thing that stuck out to me was how [Chicago Refugee Coalition’s] presenter really seemed to care about his passion about his mission,” Divelbess said. “They got the founder of the organization to come, which is not something we get every time. It’s something that sticks out when it happens.”
Dance Marathon selects a primary beneficiary each year to raise money for. Ten percent of donations go to the D219 Education Foundation, ensuring students in the area have access to the materials they need for success. Since the formation of Dance Marathon in 2003, the club has raised over $1,000,000 for various nonprofits. Chicago Refugee Coalition’s executive director Alisa Roadcup recalls her reaction to finding out they’d been picked.
“The fact that [Niles North] prioritizes these kinds of powerful acts of service, and getting out into the community and doing what you do year after year is really extraordinary, and it’s very special,” Roadcup said. “What we’re excited about is partnering with you all to engage the student body community in various ways to sort of get involved, hands on.”
Chicago Refugee Coalition has many exciting plans for the next year, including a new childcare service, Little Harbor, to help out refugee parents. Dance Marathon looks forward to raising money through its annual upcoming events, such as the 5k on October 6, and the V-show in November.
