A Close Shave for a Good Cause

OMAHA – University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Student Body President Patrick Davlin and University of Nebraska Regent Tim Clare gave up their hair for a good cause on Wednesday, March 1.

The haircuts were in celebration of UNO Dance Marathon reaching a fundraising goal. Event organizers are raising money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, to support families and patients at Omaha's Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.

Davlin and Clare committed to shaving their heads if Dance Marathon organizers could raise $3,000 in February. The group went above and beyond, raising $5,000.

Students cheered as Chancellor John Christensen kicked off the event.

"There's not another place in the country where a Board of Regents member or would do this to support kids - or a student regent," Christensen said, praising both Davlin and Clare for their efforts to serve our community.

Dance Marathon organizers hope to raise $50,000 through donations, sponsorships and participant registration before their event on Saturday, April 1 at UNO's Milo Bail Student Center. The event will feature 12 hours of dancing, games, and other activities. The theme is “Dancing Through the Decades,” and music styles from swing to disco to dubstep will help hundreds of participants keep their feet moving from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Miracle Network Dance Marathons began in 1991 and have raised more than $150 million in support for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This is the first year that UNO has hosted a Dance Marathon event.

"I think being able to be surrounded by people who all just want to give kids a chance to be kids again will be an amazing experience for our students and for our community,” said Nick Rieschl, UNO senior and Dance Marathon president. “This is an event filled with compassion, energy and emotion and I can't wait to bring it to UNO."

For media inquiries, please contact Charley Reed, UNO associate director of media relations, at unonews@unomaha.edu or 402.554.2129.