THON raises $13 million despite not breaking new fundraising record
- Feb 24, 2015
- 3 min read
Penn State has raised nearly $59 million for the Four Diamonds Fund in the last five years alone, which is roughly the same amount the school raised total in its first 35 years of THON. These efforts have helped thousands of families affected by pediatric cancer receive monetary support over the last few decades.
Cancer is the top cause of death for children in the United States and THON’s efforts are focused on finding a cure for pediatric cancer as well as helping those children and families currently affected by the disease.
This year, Penn State raised $13,026,653.23 in the fight against pediatric cancer, which is less than last year’s total of $13,343,517.33. Since THON is an ongoing event all throughout the year, that small percentage in a decrease does not drastically affect the efforts to combat pediatric cancer. Over THON’s history, there have only been seven years where the amount of funds raised for the year was less than the previous year. In total, Penn State has raised over $114 million for the Four Diamonds fund since 1977.
During the fall semester, students take over street corners in towns across PA during canning weekends to collect money for THON. Canning weekends are one of the greatest ways funds are contributed to the overall total given to The Four Diamonds Fund in Feb.
In 1973, the first THON event raised 2000 dollars and at the time was not yet affiliated with the Four Diamonds Fund in Hershey, Pa. The Four Diamonds Fund and THON partnership began in 1977 and has grown every year since. The event has grown outside of State College, Pa. and into over 130 schools across the state that organize their own mini-THONs in support of The Found Diamonds Fund.
“The Four Diamonds’ mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research,” according to www.fourdiamondsfund.org.
The focus is on providing nearly 600 families affected by pediatric cancer with direct support through monetary funds raised by the organization. According to THON’s website, 96 percent of every dollar raised goes directly to The Four Diamonds Fund.
THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world and every year thousands of Penn State students, alumni and families inhabit State College. in the Bryce Jordan Center during a weekend in February to dance “For the Kids” for 46 hours straight. Over 600 Penn State student organizations are represented throughout the dance marathon, including organizations from branch campuses as well as University Park. The event is planned, organized and executed by entirely all volunteers.
It has grown so large, that national outlets including, ABC’s Good Morning America and The Huffington Post, have written stories and done broadcasts on the event over the last few years.
Penn State University’s Communications Department in State College covered the entire weekend via social media and a live broadcast of the event. With a vast alumni network and large social media presence, the event was streamed to nearly 99 countries and to all 50 states. At any given time of the broadcast, 150 thousand people tuned in to watch what was happening right inside the Bryce Jordan Center in real time.
To learn more about getting involved in THON at Penn State Harrisburg, visit http://harrisburg.psu.edu/thon for the latest information on next year’s THON. Also, check out THON on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and news.
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