| Penn State IFC Panhellenic Dance Marathon | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Dance marathon |
| Frequency | Annually in February |
| Venue | Bryce Jordan Center |
| Location(s) | University Park, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 1973-present |
| Capacity | 15,261 (Bryce Jordan Center seating) |
| Activity | Standing, dancing |
| Patron(s) | Four Diamonds Fund |
| Organized by | Pennsylvania State University |
| Website | THON.org |
| The event's trademarked motto is "For the Kids!" (often shortened to "FTK!") | |
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (abbreviated and stylized as "THON") is an annual 46-hour dance marathon put on by the students of the Pennsylvania State University in support of the treatment and research of childhood cancer. It is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. As of 2019, it has raised in excess of $157,000,000 for the Four Diamonds Fund[1], which has "assisted 100 percent of the childhood cancer patients who have been treated at Penn State Children's Hospital."[2]
History edit
In 1972, eighth-grader Chris Millard from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania was given a class assignment: To write an autobiography of their life. For his submission, the Elizabethtown Middle School student detailed his childhood struggle with cancer; his essay would become known as "The Four Diamonds," which would become the namesake of the benefactory Four Diamonds Fund charity. Chris died on 17 December, 1972.[3]
The first THON was held in 1973, when the Penn State Interfraternity Council (IFC) President proposed the dance marathon. It featured 78 dancers who danced for 30 hours in the HUB-Robeson Center's Ballroom, raising in excess of $2,000.[4]
Today, it is held in the Bryce Jordan Center (the university's largest indoor stadium, also used for Penn State Basketball, concerts, and other large events), the marathon runs for 46 hours, and involves 16,500 student volunteers.[5]
Media coverage edit
THON has been given the spotlight not only by local media outlets such as the official student-run Daily Collegian[6] and prominent student-run blog Onward State[7]; but has also been covered by national and international journalistic outlets such as the Associated Press[8], Washington Post[9], ABC News[10], Forbes[11], and more.
References edit
- ^ "THON.org – For The Kids". Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "About Us". Four Diamonds. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ Writer, CHAD UMBLE Staff. "Elizabethtown eighth-grader who died of cancer wrote story in 1972 that inspired the Four Diamonds Fund". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "Our History – THON.org". Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "THON.org – For The Kids". Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ Collegian, The Daily. "THON | Penn State | Daily Collegian". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "THON". Onward State. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "Penn State students raise more than $10M in dance marathon". AP NEWS. 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ "Penn State students raise more than $10M in dance marathon". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ^ News, A. B. C. "Video: Penn State students participate in dance marathon". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Schattner, Elaine. "Time For THON At Penn State: How The World's Largest Student-Run Charity Helps Kids With Cancer". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
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Penn State IFC Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) edit
| Penn State IFC Panhellenic Dance Marathon | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annually in February |
| Venue | Bryce Jordan Center |
| Location(s) | University Park, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 1973-present |
| Organized by | Pennsylvania State University |
| Website | thon.org |
The Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (abbreviated and stylized as "THON") is an annual 46-hour dance marathon put on by the students of the Pennsylvania State University. As of 2019, it has raised more than $157 million for the Four Diamonds Fund.
History edit
Four Diamonds Fund edit
Should it be its own article?
Results edit
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2013 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2019 | $10,621,683.76[1] |
- Main article: Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Met_Gala?action=edit
 | This user has publicly declared that they have a conflict of interest regarding the Wikipedia article Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). |
- ^ "THON 2019 Raises $10,621,683.76 For The Kids". Onward State. 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2019-03-25.