Northwestern University’s Dance Marathon was recognized for its altruistic contributions by a Chicago philanthropy association on May 18. NU DM former chairmen Chip Newcom and Nadia Rawls were given the second annual Youth in Philanthropy Award at an awards ceremony hosted by the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The AFP 31st Annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Chicago and was hosted by NBC5 News anchor Zoraida Sambolin. “(The Youth in Philanthropy Award) recognizes that NU students are making a difference in our community,” said Newcom, who graduated in June. “You don’t hear college kids doing nice things every day.”NU DM is one of the largest student-run philanthropies in the world. Since 1975, the organization has donated more than $7.2 million to various charities. This year, DM raised a record-setting $708,711, including product donations. Of that amount, more than $423,000 went to local non-profit group Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. Dance Marathon also donated $47,003 to the Evanston Community Foundation.The Youth in Philanthropy Award recognizes a youth-generated project that demonstrates an understanding of the value of supporting one’s community and exhibits a tradition of philanthropy, said Gail Brooks, the director of meetings at the Chicago chapter of AFP, which currently has about 1,000 members.”We developed this award to pull the younger generation into philanthropy and to inspire them to fundraise for the Chicagoland area,” Brooks said. The awards ceremony also recognized seven other top Chicago-area philanthropists, eachof whom presented its contributions to the community before accepting a plaque.Some of the other winners this year included individuals from the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Trust and Chicago Community Trust. “Being recognized in the same company as these other groups was a great honor,” Newcom said. “Sitting up (on the stage) with Nadia was very awe-inspiring.”Last year’s winner of the Youth in Philanthropy Award was Wheaton Academy’s Zambia project, which has raised more than $300,000 to better the education and medical facilities in Zambia. According to Brooks, APF chose DM due in part to its long tradition of philanthropy.Dance Marathon was nominated for this award by CURE, DM’s primary beneficiary this past year, Brooks said. DM also submitted letters of recommendation from the Evanston Community Foundation and an individual from the Kellogg School of Management. Newcom said the award validated the organization’s efforts in the past 30 years. “Although the real affirmation we get is from all the students, faculty and alumni who participate in DM, this is an external validation from the Chicagoland community,” Newcom said. “I’m excited to see all the things DM does in the future.”Reach Paul Takahashi at [email protected].