FTK - RW - ALC

For The Kids - Ryan White - Ashley Louise Crouse

Ryan White

IU Dance Marathon was established in 1991 by IU alumna Jill Stewart, a best friend to national icon and hero, Ryan White. White was on track to attend Indiana University in the fall of 1991 but passed away on April 8, 1990 after a controversial and nationally public battle against AIDS. Ryan White became the poster child for the fight against HIV/AIDS, and still remains in the hearts of so many, including doctors at Riley Hospital for Children where he received his treatment. Throughout his fight, Ryan White told his story at schools across the nation, testified before the President's Commission on AIDS, and befriended celebrities like Michael Jackson and Elton John, who advocated on his behalf. At IUDM, we are deeply motivated by the story of Ryan, we are proud of the ties we share with his story, and we are blessed with the opportunity of hearing his mom and his doctors from Riley speak each year at the marathon. Without the courage of Ryan White, IUDM in its entirety would not exist.

Ashley Louise Crouse

On April 12, 2005, IU suffered a great loss with the passing of IU student Ashley Louise Crouse. Ashley was a member of the IUDM Executive Council and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at IU. After leaving the IU Dance Marathon office one spring evening, Ashley was tragically killed in a car accident. Those who knew Ashley will always remember her welcoming personality, bright smile and her passion to make a difference. Ashley truly lived and breathed IU Dance Marathon and has become one of our organization's biggest inspirations. Her hometown of Carmel, Ind. has teamed up IUDM and together we have produced the most successful high school dance marathon in the nation. Each spring, we honor Ashley's life by coming together to participate in a campus-long walk which was started after students heard of her death in 2005. We are proud to memorialize Ashley's life by aspiring to be all we can be and always push others to reach for their dreams, just as Ashley always did. She is truly an angel among us.

We honor both Ryan and Ashley by inscribing their initials, RW and ALC, on all IUDM apparel and literature so we have a constant reminder of our angels among us. Ryan White and Ashley Louise Crouse were two selfless souls whose legacies we so humbly and proudly allow to live on through us.

Below is a recording the Presidential address given by Casey Crouse, Ashley's brother, who was IUDM President. This is one of the most inspiring speeches ever; he puts everything into perspective and shows why we do what we do.