The fundraising committee for the third annual Saint Mary's Dance Marathon will host Charity Denim, a California-based company that sells discounted jeans to raise money, today in the basement of the Student Center from 2 to 8 p.m.
The money raised through the event will benefit the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
According to fundraising chair Maura Clougherty, jeans that are normally sold for $70-$200 will be available for 40-70 percent off the regular price. Charity Denim accepts cash and credit cards and offers jeans from a number of brands, including 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, True Religion, Antik, Blue Cult, Joe's Jeans, Miss Sixty and Yanuk, Clougherty said.
The Dance Marathon committee will charge a $1 entrance fee in addition to receiving 10 percent of the profits of today's sales. The total amount raised in this and other events will not be revealed until the Dance Marathon on April 4.
"I think this was a great cause, especially since the money goes towards Riley's [Hospital for Children]. I think it will be successful," Clougherty said.
Common interest in children's issues was one of the major reasons why Clougherty thought a partnership with Charity Denim would be appropriate.
"They work a lot with Children's Miracle Network, since Riley is a part of that they're willing to come to Saint Mary's to do it," she said.
Clougherty originally discovered Charity Denim through Facebook and said the group is known for working with sororities.
After contacting the organization, both Clougherty and Charity Denim agreed that Saint Mary's would be the perfect place to hold a fundraiser, "since we're all women," Clougherty said. "But we're opening this up to Notre Dame and Holy Cross as well."
Although Clougherty said they had no specific monetary goal, they have been advertising the event as much as possible.
"We have been advertising it through e-mail, signs, on Facebook and just through word of mouth," she said.
Charity Denim is one of many events the Dance Marathon committee has organized this year. The committee has raised funds by selling "Sigma Mu Chi" apparel and through the Spring Break Raffle, which is raffling off tanning and hair design packages.
In addition, there are two events still in the planning stages, she said. One is a penny war between the Saint Mary's dorms, which will either occur the week before Dance Marathon, or at the actual event, she said. The other event being planned is a 5K run/walk to be held the weekend before Dance Marathon, she said.
