What Does "FTK" Mean to You?

FTK means "For The Kids." This acronym represents all that Dance Marathons and Miracle Networks do, for the kids. UADM uses this as a hashtag, a greeting & goodbye, and a life motto. Here is what "FTK" means to some of our staff members.

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Jennie Kriznik

I am one of the Morale Color Team Captains for the Yellow team. My partner and I in charge of making sure our color team is prepared for the big event in February, by helping them prepare a themed hour, as well as creating any games for that hour and helping our directors with anything they need. FTK is the reason I continue to push myself within my major. It’s the motivation to keep pursuing my ultimate goal, which is to help kids just like them. UADM has helped me realize how passionate I am with helping others. 

Hunter Stewart

Coming to UA, I had no idea what UADM was, but randomly decided to participate as a dancer because it sounded like so much fun and seemed to be for a good cause. Now, 3 years later, I look back at my years of participating gradually getting more and more involved as perhaps one of the most important causes I have ever become a part of. Not only as UADM allowed me to personally help all the children at Children's, but has allowed them all to touch my life. Nothing has ever humanized me and put life more into perspective as has UADM and our amazing Miracle Children's resolve and love for the world. It allows me to give back even a little for children to who, in many ways, we are giving the world. FTK means everything. It is our mission, our passion, and our driving factor. Everything we do is for the kids, everything. Every Chipotle burrito eaten at a spirit night, every admission to a skating night dressed in 80s gear, and every single penny collected via a canning drive is all for the kids. And although everything we do seems small individually, together we commit everything we have for the kids, and it is who we are.

Caroline Prichard

I am the Event Management Director on this year's Dance Marathon staff! I got involved with UADM as Assistant Director of Event Management and the Yellow Team color captain my freshman year, and have loved it ever since. I deal with logistics of UADM throughout the year- scheduling meetings, grounds permits, and other requests. I also work with our awesome Master of Ceremonies, Tommy Scott, and the schedule and details for the main event in the spring. To me, FTK means a bunch of college kids coming together and fighting for kids and families- most of whom we may never actually meet. It means spending your time in college standing for those who can't, and fighting so that the next generation has the opportunity to come to college and dance themselves. Roll Tide & FTK!