University Park, Pa. — The Nittany Lion basketball team will once again ask students to join it in helping the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) when Penn State hosts the "THON Score For The Four" night Jan. 20 vs. Michigan.
Off to its best start in 13 seasons, including an upset of No. 14 Purdue earlier in January at the Bryce Jordan Center, the 13-5 Nittany Lions are eager for the return of their vocal student section and want to put that enthusiasm to work for THON. Thus, Penn State Athletics will donate all receipts from $5 single-game student tickets sold for the match-up with the resurgent Wolverines to THON 2009. The Tuesday night game with Michigan, which has spent time in the Top 25 this season, will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network at 9 p.m.
"It's great to be able to partner with THON and channel the enthusiasm of our students and basketball program into raising funds for such a great cause," said Director of Basketball Marketing Loren Crispell. "It's a win-win. We had a incredible student turnout last year for the Ohio State and Michigan State games and we raised a lot of money for THON and beat the No. 8 ranked Spartans."
Last season Nittany Lion Basketball raised over $14,000 for THON between its annual Dodgeball Tournament and the "Target 10" events for the Ohio State and Michigan State games. This year's THON Dodgeball Tournament raised over $12,000 alone as student participation nearly doubled.
The IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, and over the past 36 years, the students of THON have raised more than $52 million and have helped thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer. All proceeds benefit The Four Diamonds Fund, at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA.
Penn State students can purchase single game tickets for either game at the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office, the HUB information desk, Eisenhower Auditorium Box Office, and Downtown Theater. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at www.GoPSUsports.com, or by phone by calling 865-5555 (Bryce Jordan Center box office). Single game tickets are $5 for Penn State students.