If any of you are like me when I was in your shoes, you have no clue what THON is. And don’t worry, its okay. Chances are that you live a little too far outside of Pennsylvania to have ever heard of it. I’m only from New York so it’s definitely possible to be a little under informed. I’m going to help you know the basics of what THON is and what it is to Penn State.
THON, is short for marathon, and that its exactly what it is. THON is a 46 hour dance marathon. Yes, you read that right, 46 hours, straight. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But the cause makes it all worth it.
All of the proceeds for THON goes to the Four Diamonds Fund for the research and combat of pediatric cancer. This is why the logo for THON has 4 diamonds on it and why people make a diamond with their hands.
Throughout the year, there are so many fundraising opportunities that students create for THON. One of the biggest and most popular are canning. Canning is when student go to supermarkets, gas stations, and sometimes crosswalks with cans and ask people to donate to THON. Students like to dress up crazy to get attention and make people smile in the process. Students love to do this because its a lot of fun, and its a great way to raise money for a cause and to make friends in the process. There are also other fundraisers that take place during the year and clubs and organizations often raise money for THON as well.
If you are attending a commonwealth campus, don’t be afraid you won’t be included, there is a THON org at every Penn State commonwealth campus. There is even a contest between the commonwealth campuses to see which one will raise the most money for THON. And of course, a little competition for a good cause never hurt anyone.
The last and most important thing are the kids. One of the best things about this fundraiser is that you can meet the exact person and family you are impacting. It means a lot to the students to not just cut a check to a foundation but actually to be able to meet the kids and play with them at THON. It means a whole lot more to actually know who you are helping.
So these are just the basics but there is so much more that goes into THON. Stay tuned to see what comes next.
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