Nina and her hubby help dance the night away for a long time and a really great cause.

Name:  Nina Gibson

Cause name:  Mira Loma Dance Marathon supporting the UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Cause website url: http://miralomadancemarathon.tk/ and http://www.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org

Is this your first time volunteering with this cause? No

1. Please provide a short paragraph about your volunteer experience.

My husband has a sound and light business and DJs special events on the side.  We were only too happy to provide those services (along with some chaperoning) for the 2011 Dance Marathon at Mira Loma High School.

Our involvement was somewhat crucial to the event’s success because the participants dance for 6 hours.  Dancers registration is $25 per student and each dancer can also be sponsored by individuals or organizations (by the hour).

I became involved with this particular event through a relationship that has developed over the years with UC Davis Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network.  In my professional life, I am the liaison between our radio group and the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.  This particular opportunity to help came about after meeting with the very enthusiastic committee in 2010 who was looking for support that would help them raise and save money by reaching out to various available to the UCDMC.  While there are many volunteer opportunities with Children’s Miracle Network and UC Davis Children’s Hospital, this particular event is limited to Mira Loma High School students.  

2. What were you expecting going into this volunteering event? Did those expectations change at all once you were done volunteering?

I was expecting for a long day and a lot of fun.  While the event requires more than a 12 hour time investment, it is always amazing to see the student leadership come together for a cause that they believe so deeply in.

3. What was one thing you saw or did today that you’ll remember from today’s volunteering event?

Mira Loma students invited the 2011 Champion Child, Parmina (http://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/About/Champions/CA) as their special guest.  Parmina is an 11 year old girl with a lot of courage and strength.  It was such a wonderful feeling to see the high school students take her under their wing and show her a great time!  They were really able to make her and her grandmother feel welcome and included.  There was even a point in the evening when Parmina was playing a crazy game of tag with only boys and they all took such great care of her.

4. As an “experienced” volunteer at this cause, what would you tell someone who’s interested in volunteering at this cause for the first time?

I would tell someone that this is truly a unique opportunity to see young leadership at work.  Often times, we only hear about all that is wrong with teenagers and youth.  Watching these kids work together to put on such a large scale event with little “adult” involvement reminds me that there are a lot of positive things going on in our own community – every day.  Mira Loma is the ONLY school in California that has tackled a dance marathon.  Not only are dance marathons very popular in the south, they are primarily put on by college students.

5. Are there any additional items people should know about volunteering at this cause?

As previously mentioned, there are many ways to volunteer and help your local Children’s Miracle Network hospital.  This particular event is only open to Mira Loma High School students.

Thanks Nina – keep making our community a better place!

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