Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon - THON Weekend

THON Weekend

While Dance Marathon encompasses all of the fundraising and spirit activities held throughout the year, THON Weekend is the actual marathon itself, taking place during the third weekend in February. In 2007, THON moved to its new home in the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State University campus in State College, PA, USA. Captains, committee members, and the Overall Committee spend the entire weekend there conducting the event, even sleeping in makeshift accommodations set up throughout the building. Each of the organizing committees is responsible for different tasks throughout the weekend. For example, Morale keeps the dancers motivated, Rules and Regulations keeps them safe, and OPPerations performs construction and janitorial duties.

The dancers, unlike the volunteers, do not get to take a break. They are, however, treated to a variety of food solicited by the Hospitality committee and donated by various local restaurants and stores. Volunteers are also responsible for ensuring that the dancers are entertained throughout the two days. For many years now, Larry Moore has been the event's official DJ, staying awake with the dancers and spinning their favorite tunes as well as crowd favorites like "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. While teams were once ranked by their dancing, docked points for both time off the floor and not keeping time with the music, Dance Marathon has become a no-sitting, no-sleeping marathon. Dancers are expected to remain awake and on their feet all weekend. It is not unusual to see dancers remain standing even while receiving medical attention from athletic trainers and EMTs who also volunteer their time.

Many visitors come to Penn State for THON Weekend. Alumni, especially those with past volunteer involvement, frequently return for the event. Penn State tour guides make certain to introduce prospective students and their families to the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Current and former Four Diamonds families (those receiving support from the Fund for their child's illness) are perhaps the most welcome visitors. Dancers and fundraising organizations look forward to seeing the children that ultimately benefit from their actions. The Family Relations committee is responsible for ensuring their time there is a respite from their usual concerns.

Local and national news coverage of the event is common. Large sections of both the campus newspaper, The Daily Collegian, and the local newspaper, The Centre Daily Times, are devoted to covering it each year. It has been featured on The Today Show on NBC more than once. Each year, promotional videos are produced which are widely purchased by students and alumni. In 2005, under the guidance of the Technology committee, webcasts were begun on both the public Internet and high-speed Penn State inter-campus links. The former brought the events to children being treated at Hershey who were too sick to make the trip themselves. Most recently, the website has been redesigned by the Technology Committee to give THON a completely new look.

THON Weekend 2012 took place February 17-19, 2012. It raised $10,686,924.83, the most money raised to date and the first 8-figure total.