The weekend of Feb. 19 to 21 will mark the 38th Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON. All Penn State faculty and staff can take part in various THON activities and experience the culmination of the yearlong fundraising event.
THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world and has raised more than $61 million for the Four Diamonds Fund since its inception. The Fund aims to provide financial and emotional support to families who are affected by pediatric cancer, to raise awareness about the disease, and to eventually find a cure through research.
From 4:35 to 4:55 on Feb. 20, Penn State faculty and staff will have the opportunity to tour the concourse, mezzanine and event levels of the Bryce Jordan Center to see THON behind the scenes. Immediately following the tour, from 4:55 to 5:30 p.m., the THON Morale Committee will teach the 2010 line dance to participants, in preparation for the faculty/staff performance, which will take place at 5:35 p.m. onstage. The line dance is meant to keep dancers motivated and moving throughout the long weekend. It is performed every hour and references Penn State culture, pop culture and the Four Diamonds Fund.
At 9 p.m., faculty and staff are invited to return for the Pep-Rally and sit in the “Diamond Zone,” similar to the S-Zone in Beaver Stadium. The Pep-Rally will feature entertaining performances by Penn State athletic teams and other organizations.
Those who are interested in one or more of these events should RSVP to Noah Watson, faculty outreach captain, at njw5019@psu.edu. For more information about THON, visit http://www.thon.org/ online.