SHU-A-THON, a student club founded by Seton Hill University student Emily Heinicka, of Irwin, Pa., will sponsor a 24-hour dance marathon April 3-4 in the Salvitti Gymnasium located in the McKenna Center on Seton Hill University’s Greensburg, Pa. campus. The theme for the dance marathon is “Dance for Hope,” and the event will benefit The Children’s Institute. This event is open to the public. Anyone interested in participating must obtain financial pledges of support for The Children’s Institute. For more information, please e-mail shuathon@setonhill.edu.

“We are thrilled to be named the beneficiary of this event,” said Helene Conway-Long, MBA, CFRE, director of development and marketing for The Children’s Institute and alumna of Seton Hill University. “The funds raised from Dance for Hope will go to the Annual Fund, helping to provide needed medical and rehabilitation services to children and families without the financial resources to pay for these services. Last year alone The Children’s Institute provided approximately $4.5 million in uncompensated care.”

Heinicka anticipates 75-100 dancers to participate in this first annual event.

“Teams must be comprised of 2-3 people and students, faculty, staff, and members of the community may participate. You do not have to dance non-stop for 24 hours, however, you have to have one person from your team dancing at all times,” explained Heinicka.

Music for the 24-hour dance marathon will be provided by Jason Rullo, a local disc jockey. Food will be provided by ARAMARK, Seton Hill University’s food service provider.

The 24-hour dance marathon begins Friday, April 3, at 7 p.m. and will conclude on Saturday, April 4, at 7 p.m. The schedule for the event is as follows:

6 p.m. – Doors Open
7 p.m. – Dance-A-Thon Begins
7-8:25 p.m.–Teach 2009 SHU-A-THON Line Dance
9 p.m. – Line Dance
9:05 – 10:05 p.m. – Masters of the Universe
10 p.m.– Beach Theme Hour
10:05 p.m. – Line Dance
10:35 -11 p.m. - Seton Hill University Dance Academy (SHUDA) performs
11 p.m.-Line Dance
12 a.m.-Line Dance
12-1:00 a.m. – Glow in the Dark Theme Hour
1 a.m.– Line Dance
2 a.m. – Line Dance
2 a.m. – So You Think You Can Dance
3 a.m. – Line Dance
4 a.m. – Line Dance
4 a.m. – Flashback Theme Hour
5 a.m. – Line Dance
6 a.m. – Line Dance
7 a.m.– Line Dance
7 a.m. – Tailgate Theme Hour
8 a.m. – Line Dance
9 a.m. – Line Dance
10 a.m. – Line Dance
10:30 a.m.– Dance Club Performs
11 a.m.- Line Dance
11 a.m.– Hoedown Theme Hour
12 noon – Line Dance
1 p.m. – Line Dance
1:05 p.m. – American Idol
2 p.m. – Line Dance
2 p.m. – Broadway Theme Hour
2:30 p.m.– Student Theatre Activities Council (STAC) Performs “Broadway Medley”
3 p.m.– Line Dance
3 – 7 p.m. – Family Event-Families from The Children’s Institute will join the Seton Hill Community in dancing and children’s activities (arts and crafts, meeting the Eat n’ Park Smiley Cookie, meeting the Seton Hill University Griffin). 3:30 -4 p.m. – Introduce Families
4 p.m. – Line Dance
4 p.m. – Disney Theme Hour
5 p.m.-Line Dance
5:05 p.m.-Dance Club Performs
6 p.m.-Line Dance
6 p.m.-Pasta dinner for all dancers and families from The Children’s Institute
6:55 p.m. – Line Dance
7 p.m.– Conclusion of 24 hour dance marathon
7- 7:30 p.m. – Closing Ceremony

SHU-A-THON is a student club founded by Seton Hill junior Emily Heinicka as her Honors Capstone project. The purpose of SHU-A-THON is to create awareness of a regional issue through the collaboration of the Seton Hill University and Greensburg communities by hosting events throughout the academic year to educate and raise funds. Emily took her inspiration for SHU-A-THON from Penn State University’s THON, and received strong support from THON as she worked to create a similar organization at Seton Hill. Emily hopes that SHU-A-THON will continue as a student club after she graduates from Seton Hill.

Established in 1902, The Children’s Institute is an independent, nonprofit, licensed organization in Pittsburgh dedicated to promoting the well-being of children, young people and their families and to providing services that meet their special needs. The unique comprehensive approach of The Children’s Institute—hospital, school, adoption service—sets the organization apart from others in western Pennsylvania. In fiscal year 2008, The Children’s Institute served more than 6,500 children and their families and provided approximately $4.5 million in uncompensated care. For more information on The Children’s Institute please visit www.amazingkids.org.