Penn State dance marathon raises a record $9.6 million for pediatric cancer research

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Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When the music stopped on Sunday, organizers of Penn State University's annual Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic dance marathon had kicked up a record $9.6 million to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund for pediatric cancer research.

THON, as it is more commonly known in University Park and on Penn State's other campuses, has generated more than $78 million over three decades of nonstop dancing. Friday, 708 students began the 46-hour marathon at the Bryce Jordan Center. They finished at 4 p.m. Sunday.
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Penn State calls THON the world's largest student-run philanthropy in the world. More than 15,000 students are involved throughout the year, setting up pre-marathon fundraising events as well as the big weekend itself.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11052/1126862-455.stm

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Among all the sickening financial, environmental and political news, here's a small ray of happiness. These college kids do this on their own, topping the total EVERY YEAR. The fund's original goal, back in my day, when measly $100K was being raised, was merely to help alleviate some of the financial hardship on the families of pediatric cancer patients.

But the kids raised so damned much money, the fund has now built a pediatric cancer WING at Hershey Medical Center, set up satellite chemo sites throughout Pennsylvania, and donated to research, in addition to the original goal.

#1 Party School - not something to be proud of
#1 Student-run philanthropy in the entire world? So proud!