YORK, Pa. — THON Weekend 2024, Feb. 16-18, was a record-breaking weekend for Penn State York Benefiting THON, who made campus history by raising $28,673.68. Dancers Erin Green and Ryan Wentz completed the 46-hour dance marathon with support from Penn State York Benefiting THON and other students and spectators in the Bryce Jordan Center. THON itself once again broke its own record, raising $16,995,683.63. The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon dates place each February and is the culmination of yearlong fundraising.
The previous fundraising record for York was in 2015 when the group raised $24,821.18, and Samantha Glancey and Danielle Olson danced for York.
View photos chronicling the weekend on Flickr here.
York’s dancers joined 700 pairs of dancers who did not sit or sleep for the entire weekend. The dancers were on their feet for 46 hours to raise funds to support innovative and sustainable pediatric cancer research at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Since pairing in 1977, THON has raised more than $200 million for Four Diamonds, its sole beneficiary.
The Four Diamonds Fund fills in the funding gaps that insurance leaves for the patients it serves, enabling families to focus on caring for their children. This year’s event started at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, at the Bryce Jordan Center and ended 46 hours later, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18. “Treasure Every Adventure” was the theme for THON 2024, and this year marks the event’s 52nd anniversary.
The two dancers selected to represent Penn State York Benefiting THON at THON Weekend were chosen based on a variety of criteria, including participation in fundraising, attending events, and other activities. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, and the weekend dance marathon is the culmination of yearlong fundraising efforts.
Fundraising efforts for the campus THON committee over the past year included dine outs, purse bingos, chocolate sales, a coffee sale, a gift-wrapping event, and writing and sending solicitation letters ("THONvelopes") to family and friends.
York THON Leadership
The York group was led by Ashlyn Smith, chair; Ellie Stiffler, co-chair; Rita Ni, treasurer; Erin Greer and Aiden Gonzalez, fundraising; Bryce Thoman, family relations; Domenic Sciortino, public relations; and Ryan Wentz, secretary.