Organized by one of the 16 groups of first year event management program students in support of the Children’s Wish Foundation, it was the third year they have organized events to raise money for children living with life-threatening illnesses.

“Our hearts are overflowing,” said Lynn Noel, the Children’s Wish Foundation national capital region chapter fundraising coordinator and one of the only three staff members that cover the national capital region.

“The partnership has been so successful on every level. It’s an opportunity for us to reach places we wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to go into and mentor students who are the future of the non-profit corporations out there,” said Noel.

At 9 p.m., the doors opened and attendees started to trickle into the dimly lit nightclub where they were greeted by a cypher – a circle of breakdancers who take turns dancing in the centre. Following the cypher was an energetic performance by Culture Shock Ottawa. Around 10:30 p.m., nine pairs of b-boys stormed onto the stage and competed in the two-on-two battles for the grand prize, a television appearance on Rogers Television Daytime Ottawa plus over $200 worth of gift certificates from event sponsors.

Over the course of the night, attendees were encouraged to partake in silent auctions, raffles, and balloon popping – buying an inflated balloon for $5 and popping it to receive a prize.

“There were great giveaways. I spent over $30 on prizes,” said Kelsey Decarlo, a travel and tourism student, who attended the event. Some of the prizes that were up for grabs included a hockey stick signed by Ottawa Senator Mike Fisher, a golf membership, and several gift certificates and gift baskets from supporting businesses.

“These events are a culmination of what they learn in the classroom. It’s all about the experience they gain while using what they learned in their classes,” said Densmore.

Ben Dinh, one of the student organizers of So You Think You Could Dance: Ottawa, has learned a lot from this event about working as a team.

“In this program, everyone goes in wanting to be an event planner and being an event planner you always want things done your own way. Every time you make a decision it has to go through the whole group and a majority decision usually has to be made, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right decision or wrong decision. You have to rely and trust your team because no matter what, you can’t do it on your own,” said Dinh.

In 2008, the event management students raised over $48,000, $52,00 the following year, and this year they are looking to exceed that amount.

Starting from a zero dollar budget, the student organizers of So You Wish You Could Dance: Ottawa were hoping to raise $1,500, but ended up raising about $4,000 for the granting of the wishes of three children: a trip to Disneyland, breakfast with Cinderella, and a horse named Indigo (that was recently received by 12-year-old Mirja on April 3).

The event was so well received by attendees and performers that they are hoping to turn it into an annual event.

On Thursday April 22, there will be a wrap up event where the final total will be announced in front of all the students involved, main sponsors and members of the Children’s Wish Foundation.