UNIVERSITY PARK – The 46-hour Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) once again has set a new record, raising $10,686,924.83 for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, surpassing last year’s record $9.56 million.
Funds raised by THON go to support the Four Diamonds Fund and its pediatric cancer patients, families and researchers at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital who are working to find better treatments and, ultimately, cures for forms of cancer that afflict children. First held in 1973, THON has partnered with Four Diamonds Fund since 1977 and in that time has raised more than $88 million FTK — “For The Kids.”
More than 15,000 students participated in making THON 2012 happen – from more than 700 dancers who spent the entire weekend on their feet, to the thousands of students who helped them raise funds throughout the year, and thousands more who are volunteering during THON weekend to boost dancers’ morale, keep them fed and entertained, make sure they stay safe and share the THON experience around the world via streaming video.
Before announcing the total, Elaine Tanella, overall chair for THON 2012, announced top fundraisers for each of the dancer categories.
Independent dancer couples combined to raise $589,152.07.
The top 10 totals from commonwealth campuses are:
1. Fayette, $87,942.22
2. Altoona, $82,872.57
3. Hazleton, $52.852.57
4. Abington, $41,695.96
5. Berks, $40,306.73
6. Mont Alto, $31,441.92
7. Harrisburg, $31,280.48
8. Lehigh Valley, $31,180.47
9. New Kensington, $29,847.53
10. Schuylkill, $28,476.58
The top 10 totals from general organizations are:
1. College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, $87,591.82
2. Phi Gamma Nu, $73,988.42
3. Phi Chi Theta, $70,487.53
4. Alpha Kappa Psi, $65,976.33
5. Club Swim Team, $58,499.67
6. Men’s and Women’s Club Lacrosse, $57,248.78
7. Women in Business, $54,765.57
8. Delta Sigma Pi, $51,394.07
9. Phi Beta Lambda, $51,360.00
10. Campus Crusade for Christ, $47,434.53
The top 10 totals from special interest organization are:
1. Atlas, $369,294.04
2. Ohana, $243,842.39
3. Springfield, $169,699.69
4. Pillar, $108,300.53
5. FOTO, $85,754.91
6. Tri-STATE, $48,956.46
7. H.E.A.L., $44,894.49
8. Trilogy, $44,609.92
9. Apollo, $37,796.57
10. A-7, $37,187.16
The top 10 totals from Greek organizations are:
1. Alpha Tau Omega and Zeta Tau Alpha, $329,863.76
2. Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Sigma Alpha, $244,914.10
3. Acacia and Gamma Phi Beta, $181,577.79
4. Sigma Chi and Alpha Omicron Pi, $175,752.74
5. Pi Kappa Phi and Alpha Chi Omega, $161,374.31
6. Kappa Delta Rho and Sigma Delta Tau, $144,293.81
7. Delta Chi and Kappa Kappa Gamma, $122,370.25
8. Sigma Alpha Mu and Chi Omega, $120,839,04
9. Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Pi Beta Phi, $120,735.04
10. Theta Delta Chi and Alpha Delta Pi, $117,571.12
Photos from throughout the weekend can be viewed online. For photos from Friday, click here ; from Saturday, click here; and from Sunday, click here. For additional photos from throughout the weekend, visit here.
For more on THON, visit THON.org.
