University Park, Pa. -- In 10 weeks, the 35th annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, aka THON, will kick off at the Bryce Jordan Center. This year for its 19th annual Penn State collectible holiday ornament sale, Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania decided to honor THON's achievements.
THON's mission is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund.
The 2007 ornament, 24-carat gold plated over brass, depicts silhouetted THON dancers and a Four Diamonds Fund child atop one dancer's shoulders. Below that is the THON logo and the four words representing the story of the Four Diamonds -- courage, wisdom, strength and honesty.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit both Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania and THON.
"Since both of our causes deal with helping children in the community, we really thought that working together could help raise awareness and resources to benefit our causes," explained Dan Cocco, THON 2008 overall chairperson.
The ornament is available for $18.99 online from the THON Store, https://store.thon.psu.edu. Online purchases must be made before Sunday, Dec. 16, to ensure that items will be shipped before Penn State's winter break. Orders received after Dec. 16 will not be filled or shipped until the third week of January, when Penn State's spring semester begins.
The THON ornament as well as past years' Easter Seals ornaments, based on availability, can also can be ordered via mail or fax from Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania. An order form can be downloaded here.
THON 2008 will be held Friday-Sunday, Feb. 22-24, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Last year Penn State students raised $5,240,385.17 to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund .
Donations for THON 2008 can be made online at https://secure.ddar.psu.edu/Thon/. More information about THON is available at http://www.thon.org, including the THON 2008 promo video. The THON 2008 "Heroes" video is viewable here.