Why We THON

Hey ladies! So as future Penn Staters, by now you have probably heard about THON. And if not I’m here to tell you all about it! THON, or Penn State Dance Marathon is the largest student run philanthropy in the world which raises money to support the fight against pediatric cancer. Thousands of students spend months raising money through various events and fundraisers and it finally culminates in a 46 hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon that takes place every February. Last year THON raised over $13.34 million dollars and it has raised over $110 million dollars since it began in 1973. But that’s not even the best part! Why should you get involved? How do you get involved? Keep reading to find out!

Why should you get involved?

The Families: Not only does THON raise millions of dollars to help these children get the treatment and help they need, it gives us students the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing and strongest families you will encounter in your entire life. The sole beneficiary of THON is the Four Diamonds Fund which is a charity based out of Penn State’s Hershey Medical Center. Its mission is to cover all the expenses these families could encounter while their child is undergoing treatment. And when I say all, I really do mean it. Chemo, surgery, clinical trials, gas money, food money, hotels, absolutely anything these families need, the fund will provide. And the families never even see a bill. Additionally, each one of these families is paired with a Penn State organization who serves as a support system to help the family get through one of the most difficult times in their life. This is also a great opportunity for us as students because we get to become really close with these families and are inspired by their stories and their strength. Meeting and bonding with these families is incredibly moving and will change your whole outlook on life.

The Students: The friends you will make and the people you will meet from being a part of THON is amazing. Every student involved is so incredibly passionate, and you will become the exact same way. The cause really brings people together and you will make life-long friends after knowing each other for just a few weeks. Some of my best friends are people I have meet through my involvement in THON, and I know we will still be talking and reminiscing about the experiences THON has given us 50 years from now.

The Community: One of my favorite things about Penn State is the sense of community you feel at the school. This community only gets stronger through involvement in THON. When you meet someone who is also a part of THON, it’s an immediate connection. It is something that will bond you with people instantly and something you could talk about for hours. It is an amazing feeling to stand in the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) during THON weekend with 15,000 other students all cheering and dancing for a cause they are as passionate about as you are. There isn’t another experience quite like it in the world.

How do you get involved?

Student Organizations: Almost every student organization on campus is involved with THON in some way. SWE (Society of Women Engineers), club sports, fraternities/sororities, campus choirs, all of these will have a THON organization. What this means is that there is the main club and then there will be a sub-committee that’s involved in THON. These groups will be paired with a family and raise money for THON through fundraisers, canning weekends and various other activities. (Side note: a canning weekend is when you go with your organization to someone’s home town and stand on street corners and in front of businesses asking for money.) Additionally, there are a ton of clubs whose sole purpose is THON. Either way, there are a variety of different options. During the first week of school there will be an activity fair where you can learn about all these different clubs and organizations and find out which are best for you!

Committees: The difference between an organization and a committee is that an organization exists to raise money for THON and support a specific family or families where the committees work to actually make THON happen. Some examples of committees are OPPerations, Finance, Entertainment, and Morale; each has a specific role in the planning, preparation, and execution of every one of THON’s events throughout the year but most importantly THON weekend. To get onto one of these committees you will need to fill out an application because positions can be a bit competitive. This is because being a member of a committee is a unique and extremely rewarding experience. Your committee will become like a family and you will become close with everyone, faster than you could even imagine. It is awesome to be able to know you worked to make such a huge and amazing event that does inspiring things for so many people, happen. The applications usually come out in mid to late September so definitely be on the lookout for that!

Be a Supporter: Even if you decide not to get involved in THON through an organization or committee during your first year there are still a ton of events you can go to and things you can do to support the cause! THON has a bunch of special events throughout the year such as a 5K race, sporting events, restaurant fundraisers downtown, and so much more! So come out, help the kids, and have some fun, especially during THON weekend! The doors are open to anyone, regardless of whether or not you’ve been involved throughout the year and it is an unbelievable experience. Spend just one hour dancing around in the BJC with 15,000 of your best friends and you’ll be begging to sign up for next year!

If you haven’t noticed by now, THON is something that is near and dear to my heart and a cause that I have an amazing passion for. Four years ago I was probably in a similar position that you are in. I had heard about THON and it sounded pretty cool but I wasn’t completely sure how it worked or what it was all about. But when I came to Penn State I decided to jump right in and get involved, and I’m so happy that I did. Some of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in college have come through THON. I’ve meet so many incredibly people who have inspired me in ways I never would have believed. THON has become a major part of my life and I couldn’t imagine what my college experience would have been without it. I encourage you to let it have the same effect on you!

Melissa Consiglio is a senior in Architectural Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14!