Posted on 02/22/2015 3:46:04 PM PST by FlJoePa
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s THON made a statement. Again.
The 2015 Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON, was held this past weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University. After 46 hours of dancing, it was revealed that the organization raised $13,026,653.23 during the past year.
THON is a year-long fundraising campaign for the fight against pediatric cancer. Money raised is donated to the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey.
This marks the first time since 2004 that THON raised less money than the previous year. Last year’s total was $13,343,517.33. The 2015 THON theme was Empower the Dreamers.
Josie Bachman, a Penn State student from Drums, was on the floor as a dancer for the first time. As an independent dancer, Bachman had to raise money to be selected to dance. She initially raised $800 and was selected in a lottery in early February.
It’s was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, she said.
“It’s honestly been amazing,” Bachman said. “I’ve been on a committee for the past few years and now I’ve seen the other side of it. Dancing has completely exceeded my expectations. I can’t believe it happened.”
For 46 hours, dancers must remain on their feet. The event began Friday at 6 p.m. and culminated with the fundraising total reveal at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Throughout the event, numerous activities were available for the dancers, including live music and appearances from household names, such as Penn State football coach James Franklin.
But for Bachman, the 46 hours wasn’t a big deal.
“It’s a mental thing,” Bachman said. “If you tell yourself you can do it, you can do it.”
Penn State Wilkes-Barre student Ryan McDermott, a sophomore from the Stroudsburg area, is dancing out of the Lehman campus with fellow student Kaitlyn Benczkowski, a Bear Creek resident.
Throughout the marathon, dancers have support from morale dancers. McDermott’s was extremely important in him getting through the weekend, he said.
“It has been an absolute blast,” McDermott said. “It’s exhausting but it’s amazing in every way, shape and form.”
McDermott said the morale dancers went as far as taking his cell phone and changing the time zone, so the dancers didn’t know what time it actually was.
“You just lost track of time,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome, though. Our minds are occupied.”
Franklin addressed the crowd for approximitely three minutes. In turn, he and his family donated $13,000 to THON. He’s been the head coach at Penn State for 13 months. During that time, he said, both of his daughters, Shola and Addy, each saved money to donate to the cause.
“I can’t express to you guys how much you empower and how much you inspire not only the Penn State community but the entire country,” Franklin said. “Football is just a small part of this university.”
Also in attendance was Sue Paterno, wife of long-time Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. She was on the floor for the final four hours dancing and interacting with the students and families.
She said she comes to the event each year to support.
“It would break my heart not to be here,” she said. “You want to keep coming back. It’s miraculous what they do.”
During the year, student organizations across the state and country make contributions to THON. Students from the Penn State campuses set up canning drives, as well. Since THON’s inception in 1973, the donation total has hit more than $127 million.
The final four hours of the event are the most emotional. A recognition of all the families battling childhood cancer was observed, including family speeches. When dancers finally sat at 4 p.m., the fundraising total was revealed.
Finally! Kids doing something worthwhile instead of taking selfies.
Imagine if all colleges did this.
This is great. But,,, I keep getting solicited by a breast cancer fund. I looked them up on the net. They collected 33 million last year. But guess what? They paid 28 million to the call centers they hired, and contributed less than 5% for cancer research. Check out where your money goes!
Last year 96% of THON’s total went to the Four Diamonds Fund. 4% went to administrative costs.
The added keywords say a lot. Nothing about Penn State, but a lot about the posters that added them.
They’re legit! Some others are not. That’s why one needs to do some checking before donating.
How much cash has Penn State raised for survivors is sexual abuse?
God Bless These Kids!
I have been giving to Thon for over 20 years now.
In that time, countless lives of children have been saved through research and new methods.
Sadly, when I watched the Thon this year, there were very few students “of color”.
Maybe some of the alternative groups at Penn State should “pull up their pants” and try to give a little bit back of the bounty they have received in the way of affirmative action scholarships.
The drug companies are happy.
Some people are just miserable and their sole purpose in life is to drag others down to their level of misery.
Personally, I’m proud of these young men and women. There are far too many stories of wild frat parties, hazing ending in fatality, riots following football games and the usual robberies, mayhem and murder. Good to see young people doing something positive. Too bad some people can’t be happy for these kids.
You must be lost. This thread is about PSU students working year round to raise money for pediatric cancer.
Knocking others down is apparently the only way to make them feel good about their own lives I guess.
Haters gonna hate. Staters gonna State.
However, I did hear that Penn State football coaches have done a great deal to grow the businesses of sexual abuse therapists.
How much money did you raise this past year for pediatric cancer. Did you just stand on your feet for 46 hours to celebrate the THON kids?
If not, I don’t think it’s appropriate that you hijack the students exemplary work and turn it around and repackage it with your unfunny, boring snark in an effort to denigrate an entire University.
Raise $14 million this year and you can run your mouth all you want though.
“How much money did you raise this past year for pediatric cancer. Did you just stand on your feet for 46 hours to celebrate the THON kids?”
Last year, the university I attended raised $337 million for their cancer hospital.
As for standing on one’s feet for 46 hours straight, I understand that was not unusual for young boys after they left the Penn State shower room.
Pales in comparison to THON.
The students raised that? Wow - why haven’t I heard about this? Please provide me links and information. I’m impressed and intrigued.
You, on the other hand tell pedophile jokes (while I guess making some sort of stand against pedophilia).
Who could possibly be against kids with cancer!?
No one would be so cynical as to think that the poster of this thread, or his beloved Penn State, would try to burnish their reputation on the backs of a bunch of dying kids.
Could they?
If only the poster of this thread didn't endlessly and relentlessly promote the reputation of Penn. Why, it's almost as if he's on the payroll at Penn. Sort of a One Hit Wonder as it were.
Please don’t feed the idiots.
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