Weinberg freshman Zach Elvove didn't know what to expect at his first Dance Marathon. His father told him tales of couples gathering at Blomquist Gymnasium dancing to Frank Sinatra, Jr. and raising about $10,000. An experience very different from the colors and lights that fill the NUDM 2013 tent and philanthropic event that has raised over $1 million.
Zach's father Roy (Speech '75, Medill '76) was responsible for all things PR during the first NUDM in 1975. Being the first year, Roy was unsure if the event was going to be pulled off, let alone the year after it. Almost four decades later, and NUDM is one of the biggest events on campus.
Following in his father's footsteps, Zach has served this year as a communications subcommittee co-chair. "I'm kind of excited to take part in something my dad helped start," Zach said. "I felt a little challenged because I realized he did the work my entire committee does."
Roy knew that in order to get people to come to DM, there had to be entertainment and people had to know about it.
"As any project, you need to get the people to do the work," Roy said. "I took on public relations."
The older Elvove also recognized the hard work that the Northwestern community has put into sustaining NUDM.
"He's a very honest man," Zach said about his father. "Always running around, writing thank you letters, helping get a lot of the fliers out. Behind the scenes, you don't really see that."
Julie Kliegman contributed reporting.