UCLA Dance Marathon is a collaborative Univeristy-wide effort that builds campus unity and philanthropy benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Now in its fifth year, Dance Marathon strives to educate the UCLA community about the HIV/AIDS pandemic while actively engaging students, faculty, staff and community members through its events. Dance Marathon challenges its participants to pledge themselves to dance for 26-hours in Ackerman Grand Ballrooom amidst DJ music, live performances from student groups and local bands, as well as interactive competitions and themed hours. In addition to the hundreds of “Dancers”, others choose to participate as “Moralers”; people in charge of motivating the dancers and keeping morale high for the entire 26 hours. Other attendees include families, children or others affected by pediatric AIDS as well as celebrity guests. UCLA is one of the five hospitals that receive research funding from the Foundation. A Steering and General committee is formed to plan, organize and execute the event that culminates in Winter Quarter, and other events throughout the year.