UI Dance Marathon pledges $5 million for new Children's Hospital

The University of Iowa Dance Marathon will provide $5 million in support over the next 10 years for the new UI Children's Hospital building, UI and Dance Marathon officials announced Friday during a celebration at the Iowa Memorial Union.

Dance Marathon's commitment is the first leadership gift to the hospital's building campaign, and is in addition to Dance Marathon's ongoing funding of programs that support pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients and their families treated at UI Children's Hospital.

Elyse Meardon, executive director of the 2012 Dance Marathon, is also a member of the Dance Marathon Allocations Committee, a 15-member board consisting of Dance Marathon student leaders and alumni, UI Children's Hospital and university officials and community members charged with reviewing funding proposals and selecting projects to which Dance Marathon funds are directed. The committee voted unanimously in April in favor of the $5 million commitment.

"It is truly amazing that, as students, we are able to make such a significant investment in the UI community that supports our organization on so many levels," Meardon said. "With this new building will come state-of-the-art equipment, passionate staff and a safe, kid-friendly environment where children can grow and heal."

Groundbreaking for the new UI Children's Hospital will be fall 2012, with anticipated completion of the 11-story tower in December 2015.

The new UI Children's Hospital will be a dedicated tower for children's health care, consolidating under one roof services that currently are spread throughout the hospital complex. The new tower will be designed as a healing environment that improves the health and well-being of children and their families. In addition to fostering excellent clinical care, the new facility will support the teaching mission of the institution by providing an optimal environment for the education of pediatric physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other medical staff.