Dance Marathon's Lower School Family Movie Night Brings Community Together in Support of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

On Friday, December 5, the Saint Andrew’s Dance Marathon (SADM) Club hosted its second annual Lower School Family Movie Night, an evening filled with warmth, community spirit, and charitable purpose. Approximately 200 parents and children attended, gathering behind Scots Square and the Charles and Hagerty building beginning at 5:15 pm. Many families spread blankets and set up lawn chairs, with children arriving in cozy pajamas. The event wrapped up at 8:00 pm, raising $1,400 towards the club's $40,000 goal.

The featured film of the night was The Grinch (2018), shown outdoors and supported by a team of dedicated student volunteers from SADM and SASSA. Families enjoyed food for purchase along with a special hot chocolate bar sponsored by Sage Dining. For a $15 donation, children received a bracelet granting them access to a variety of holiday crafts, including cookie decorating sponsored by the Giving Table Club, face painting, and snowman-making activities that kept the atmosphere lively and festive.

The event was designed not only as a fun evening for Lower School families but also as a meaningful fundraiser in support of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. SADM works in partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, joining high schools and colleges nationwide, including the University of Florida and Florida State University, to raise funds that support children’s hospitals in their local communities. All money raised by the Saint Andrew’s chapter directly supports patient care and innovation at Nicklaus Children’s.

SADM Advisor Victoria Zingarelli highlighted the heart behind the evening, sharing, “The event not only brought the community together but also strengthened awareness of SADM’s mission, proving once again that when students, families, and faculty unite, they can make a meaningful impact.”

Families who attended echoed this sentiment. Saint Andrew’s parent and Upper School psychology teacher Sarah Smith said, “The Dance Marathon Movie Night is one of my favorite events held on SA’s campus. It was such a nice way to kick off the holiday season! Watching my daughter and her friends enjoy the movie while supporting an important cause made the evening absolutely perfect. It felt great to see the community come together for such a sweet and simple celebration. I was very impressed with all the club members who put this together, and I sincerely want to thank Ms. Z for all her hard work! Great job and GO SCOTS!”

Student leadership also took pride in the night's success. Co-Overall Sydney Jacobs shared, “The LS Movie Night meant a lot to me because it showcased how our community can come together to make a difference in the SADM mission while welcoming new members to join our cause. I saw it as successful not only based on the turnout, but because of the positive energy, connection, and joy the event created. We organized this event to build community, spread awareness of our mission, and show that together, we can make a meaningful impact. LS Movie Night proves that our community can join together and thrive when we create opportunities to participate in something purposeful.”

The LS Family Movie Night once again proved to be an evening that blended joy, connection, and purpose, highlighting the power of community in supporting children’s health and well-being.

To learn more about SADM or to support their mission, please visit: https://events.dancemarathon.com/teams/75330