Ankeny Dance Students Raise Money for Blank Children's, Mercy Hospitals (PHOTOS)

From an Ankeny Dance & Performing Arts Academy Press Release:

Students at Ankeny Dance & Performing Arts Academy recently dressed for success – making a positive difference in their community by being allowed to break their dance dress code if they brought a donation to charity to their classes.

Students decked out in dance class in a variety of Halloween costumes and fun outfits in return for bringing donations of toys or money for the Child Life Services departments at both Blank Children's Hospital and Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

This is the sixth year in a row Ankeny Dance owners Sarah and Mark Ferree have held the charity event coinciding with National Make a Difference Day on Oct. 27.  This year’s Halloween fundraiser turned out to be a record-breaking benefit for pediatric patients at Blank and Mercy Hospitals.

The first year Ankeny Dance held the fundraiser was back in 2007, and students filled 10 boxes of toys and gifts for hospitalized children and raised $368 in cash donations, which the Ankeny Dance owners matched for a total cash contribution of $736 dollars.

This year, they collected 12 huge boxes of donations, plus $1,141.71 in cash. The Ferrees once again matched that amount with an additional $1,141.71 donation for a total gift of $2,283.42 split between the Child Life Departments of both Blank Children's Hospital and Mercy Hospital.

As parents of four children, the Ferrees said they want Ankeny Dance students to see how important it is to give back to the communities in which they live and that each one of them can make a difference in the lives of others.

“It's easy to get so focused on one's own life that we can sometimes forget about helping those in need who are all around us,” said Sarah Ferree. “We're so proud of all of our students and their families at Ankeny Dance who donated their time, toys, wish list items, and monetary gifts to make life better for other young people in our area.”

The Ferrees chose the Child Life Departments at Blank Children's Hospital and Mercy Hospital because they are mostly funded by donations and because they have a huge impact in helping children as they cope with the challenges of their illnesses.

As the Blank Children's Hospital website states, "Certified child life specialists foster healing and recovery by helping children deal with the fears and emotions that often accompany a visit to the clinic, emergency room or the hospital. They use dolls, toys and other child-friendly education to help children better understand the medical procedures they will undergo. They also help put children at ease during procedures by telling stories, blowing bubbles, listening to music and other activities. This helps distract and empower children as they cope with medical procedures in positive ways."

The Ferrees said they would like to thank everyone involved in making a difference with their gifts of toys and money to brighten the lives of young people at Blank Children's Hospital and Mercy Hospital.

Ankeny Dance & Performing Arts Academy is located at 515 N. Ankeny Blvd. in Northside Plaza. The business can be reached at 515-964-5048 or visit their website at www.ankenydance.com.