Frequently Asked Questions

There are many different ways to get involved in THON. You can join a participating student organization, volunteer as a captain or committee member, start your own THON organization, attempt to dance independently, or attend any THON event throughout the year. For more information about getting involved, check out our How to Get Involved page. You can also contact John Arnao at communications@thon.org with additional questions.

There are no limits to what independently organized groups can do for THON and For The Kids! To learn more about starting your own organization, please visit this page. You can also contact John Arnao, the Communications Overall Chairperson, at communications@thon.org for more information.

Live acts are key to keeping the dancers on their feet!! Please note that we do have a limited number of live bands. If you are interested in learning more about how your band can perform at THON, please contact entertainment@thon.org. Please include the name of you band, the genre of music it plays, a description of the venues at which you have performed, your willingness to play covers, a website link (if applicable), and your phone number. Thank you for your interest in supporting THON!

No. Every student at Penn State is encouraged to get involved! There is a place for everyone in the THON community. Please visit our How to Get Involved page for more information.

If you want to dance for a specific organization, talk to that organization's THON Chair. If you are thinking of dancing independently, see our Independent Dancers page.

There are 14 committees in THON, and there is an Overall in charge of each committee. The Overall Chairperson (or "Overall Overall") is also on the Overall Committee, for a total of 15 Overalls.

Each of the 14 committees has a number of Captains - dedicated students with lots of responsibilties for THON. A list of Captain positions can be found here.

Certain Captains also have committee members under them. Committe member positions are for students who want a slightly less intensive involvement in THON. Descriptions of the committees with committtee member positions can be found here.

A THON Chair is a member within a student organization (not a position directly within THON) who coordinates all of that organization's involvement with THON. You must talk to people from your organization to learn more about becoming a THON Chair.

Click here for a list of Captain positions.

Click here for a list of all the committees in THON. When applying as a committee member, you apply only by committee - which role you have within that committee is decided later.

That depends on the committee. Some committees, such as Technology, don't even have committee members. In those cases, you can certainly start as a Captain. For certain Captain positions, prior experience in THON or on that position's committee is expected. The descriptions of Captain positions here include what prior experience, if any, is expected for each position.

The committee selection process is very competitive due to the overwhelming number of applicants. We are not able to place everyone on a committee, however there are more ways to get involved in THON. Check out the How to Get Involved section of our website for more information.

You can continue to support THON and our fight against pediatric cancer even after you’ve graduated! THON alumni play a key role in continuing to spread the message of THON and its importance to the kids and families. Alumni are encourage to join the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group, or DMAIG. DMAIG is a university-sponsored Alumni Interest Group (AIG) designed to bring THON alumni together and keep them connected to one of Penn State's most beloved traditions. Through the DMAIG, THON alumni can continue to support regional events, compete for the opportunity to dance in THON, and keep in touch with old friends. To learn more about DMAIG, please visit their website at www.DMAIG.org.

Virtually anyone is eligible to dance in THON, though some conditions should be highly considered concerning dancing. Heart conditions, back conditions, previous experiences with seizures or epilepsy, strict dietary concerns, taking daily medications that make you sleepy or drowsy, or any other kind of medical or physical condition that may intensify the challenges faced THON Weekend should be taken into account if trying to dance. While no one is turned away for these reasons, it is highly recommended and urged not to attempt dancing if you experience such conditions.

Anyone who is a current student of Penn State can dance independently. Independent dancer registration is currently underway, and once registered you can start raising money towards THON. The opportunity to dance is based on a lottery system, and the more money you raise the better chance you have being selected. For more information on the independent dancing process please contact communications@thon.org.

Any dancer in an organization can put whomever they want on their pass list, usually its members of that organization and their family requests. The passes are good from the beginning of THON until 12 pm Sunday when the THON finale passes begin working. At this point only those on the THON finale pass list are allowed on the floor. For independent dancers it works the same way, except they have a limited number of passes and no THON finale passes.

Dancers and Moralers are urged to meet each other prior to THON weekend. When you find out who your moraler is, meet up with them ASAP! All Dancers should make every attempt to come to the Color Wars Kickoff in order to meet their moraler, other dancers representing their color, and get a taste of the events they will see THON weekend! During THON weekend, moralers will find you when they are on shift. It is always a good idea to stay in a general area and let your moraler know where you may be for when they return for their shift.

Dancers are more than welcome to bring their cameras, iPods, camcorders, and other personal electronic devices THON weekend. We know THON is a special, magical time that you're going to want to cherish and share forever, so by all means, take lots and lots of pictures. When packing, however, keep in mind that there are no personal outlets to charge or plug in devices.

You may want to think twice about bringing a watch or any type of clock though. It might make it harder to stay awake for the weekend if you are constantly looking at your watch.

Right here!

If your organization has not been involved in THON before and is interested in participating, please contact John Arnao at communications@thon.org.

Please contact the John Arnao at communications@thon.org. You will be added to the THON Chair listserv.

If you would like to be added to the listserv for all of THON (not just THON Chairs), click here.

There are no limits to what independently organized groups can do for THON and For The Kids! To learn more about starting your own organization, please visit the page dedicated to helping you build a successful group! You can also contact John Arnao, the Communications Overall Chairperson, at communications@thon.org for more information.

Every organization that participates in THON is assigned a liaison from the Communications and Donor Relations Committees. Your liaisons are there to help you every step of the way. Your liaison has a wealth of knowledge and resources that can help motivate your organization’s members and help maximize your fundraising potential. Contact John Arnao at communications@thon.org to find out who your liaison is!

There is also a section on THON.org just for you! Please visit the THON Chair Resources page.

The most successful methods of fundraising include canning, letter writing with THONvelopes, small business and corporate solicitation, pledgebooking, and alternative fundraising events.

To learn more about how you and your organization can succeed in your fundraising efforts this year, please visit our fundraising resources page.

SORAAC stands for Statement of Rule Awareness and Compliance. Every THON Chair is required to sign a SORAAC form. The form can be found online on www.THINK.psu.edu.

In order to sign the SORAAC, you must first complete the brief THON Chair quiz. Signing the SORAAC confirms that you have read the Rulebook and understand that you might communicate its contents to the members of your organization. The SORAAC form must be signed prior to the first fundraising weekend. If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Kay at rules.regulations@thon.org.

Legal canning means obeying laws established in the PA Vehicle Code. The entire code can be found in the appendix of the THON Rulebook, but here are a few highlights:

Organizations must obtain permits where it is required by the township.

Under no circumstances is solicitation allowed in the middle of streets or on medians.
Solicitors must use sidewalks where they are available.

Canning may only take place between dawn and dusk. Do not solicit funds when it is dark outside.

For more information on canning, please visit our Fundraising Resources page.

Obtaining permits for canning differs depending on the township in which you plan to solicit funds. The first step you should take is to contact the township. Ask, "How do I apply for a solicitation permit?" They will provide with the information specific to the township. Usually, there is paperwork that must be filled out in advance. You should start contacting townships at least one month before your trip. If you are still having difficulty obtaining permits, please contact Caitlin at rules.regulations@thon.org. We will be happy to assist you in any way possible.

Your organization’s up-to-date total can be acquired by emailing the Finance Overall, Lauren Tucci, at finance@thon.org. You will receive an updated breakdown of your total donations for THON 2010. Due to the high volume of such requests, please limit your requests to every other week.

Having your organization paired with a Four Diamonds Family is a great way to create an emotional connection with a family affected by pediatric cancer and motivate your organization. Your organization can apply to “adopt” a family by filling out an “Adopt-a-Family” Application before the specified deadline. To learn more about the application process, please join us for the “Adopt-a-Family” Application Workshop (see the Events page to find out when)!

Once your application is filled out, you will be required to attend to an Adopt-A-Family meeting where you will find out whether or not your organization has been paired with a family. The opportunity to be paired with a family is a very special privilege, and it is not guaranteed that every organization will be paired with a family.

THINK stands for THON Information Network, and it can be accessed at www.think.psu.edu. As a chair or independent dancer, THINK can be one of your greatest resources. THINK is the one-stop shop for registering canning trips, submitting requests for marketing materials for donors, and registering dancers. You can use THINK to your advantage; just ask us how!


If you have additional questions about how to use THINK, please email your THON Liaison or to John Arnao at communications@thon.org.

The THON corporate packet is a professionally designed marketing packet that your organization can use to solicit small business and corporate donors. The packet can assist your fundraising efforts by legitimizing THON to potential donors.

In order to gain access to a corporate packet, you must fill out a “New Company Contact Request” form on THINK. Upon completion of your submission, you will be contacted by the Donor Relations committee to assist you with the next steps of the process.

In order for individuals affiliated with your organization to gain access to the floor during THON Weekend, a pass list must be submitted prior to THON Weekend on THINK. Pass list submissions will be available starting on Monday, January 10, 2010, and closing on Sunday, February 7, 2010, at 11:59 pm.

Yes. Any money received from the company will be credited to your organization even if the Donor Relations committee contacts the company on your behalf.

All checks should be delivered to the THON Office, 210 HUB, as soon as they are received. In order to ensure that your organization is properly credited, you must write your organization’s name and number listed on the memo line of the check. Please do not put Greek letters on the check.

Pledge books should be turned in as soon as the book is filled. Make sure the cover of the booklet, and each page, has your organization’s name and number listed before being dropped off.

During the Monday following each canning weekend, Canning Drop-Offs will be held in the HUB. You must pre-register on THINK the time of the day during which you will drop off your organization’s money. Canning Drop-Off times can be registered using the “Canning” link at www.think.psu.edu.

Registering trips in a certain location does not give you exclusive rights to that location. You are encouraged to work with the other organization to share the territory. At the end of the day, all the money is going to the same great cause!

The best way to motivate and inspire the members of your organization is by sharing family stories with them. Once students see the purpose behind their efforts, they are much more likely to write letters, attend events, and go on canning trips. If you are in need of motivational material, please contact John Arnao at communications@thon.org!

The number of dancers allotted to your organization is based on your previous year's fundraising total for your organization. Although fundraising totals for organizations vary each year, the number of total dancer spots does not. As a result, dancer allotments change each year. This means that your organization stands to gain dancer spots, remain the same, or lose dancer spots, depending on your fundraising total.

Organizations that are participating in THON for the first time, and ones that did not raise enough money during the previous year to be guaranteed dancers, will be placed in a weighted lottery. If this applies to your organization, you must raise a minimum of $2,200 to qualify for the year’s lottery. Each additional $500 earned by your organization will earn you an extra "chance". The Dancer lottery occurs in the beginning of February. The more money you are able to raise, the greater your chances are of being awarded dancers for THON Weekend.

New organizations aren't guaranteed a dancer couple, but are instead placed into a weighted lottery. This year, new organizations must raise a minimum of $2,200 to be eligible for the lottery. Each additional $500 earned by your organization will earn you an extra "chance" in the lottery. The number of dancers that your organization will be awarded for your second year of participation will be based off of your fundraising successes during your first year.

If you want general THON gear, you can visit the THON Store at http://store.thon.psu.edu.

If you want THON gear customized for your organization, there are 5 vendors located in and around State College that can print your THON gear. When you order your organization's clothing from one of these companies, you will be given the best price available. Because these companies are licensed, THON will receive the trademark royalty fee in the form of a donation. The royalty fee for all licensed companies printing THON merchandise is 8%. This charge will be added directly to the cost of your order or will be listed as a separate line on the invoice. Using a licensed company ensures that the THON name and logo are not misused.

Be aware that using a company which is not licensed to print THON clothing is illegal.

To submit an alternative fundraising request, your THON chair needs to go to THINK and fill out an alternative fundraising request form. Providing as much detail as possible in your request will make the process much easier. Requests are due at least 10 days before the event to ensure that the Rules & Regulations alternative fundraising captains have enough time to help you in your planning!

If you’re a family that is on active treatment as of early fall, you may be eligible for a complimentary hotel room for THON Weekend. During December or January, you will be given your hotel assignment.

Families not on active treatment are required to make their own reservations, however many hotels will offer a discount to your family. Please refer to the September Mailer for a list of hotels that offer discounts to Four Diamond Families!

If your child is on active treatment, then you are allocated one complimentary hotel room for THON Weekend. If you need additional rooms, you must cover the cost. In order to keep your family in one hotel, we can help to book the second room for you. Please note if you would like your rooms to be adjoining.

Directly outside of the Family Entrance (Founder’s Entrance on the Mezzanine Level) is the Family Parking Lot. The handicap parking lot also leads directly into the entrance. If you’re staying at the Nittany Lion Inn, there will be a shuttle to the BJC.

Each family will receive 1 parking pass in the February Mailer. If you know that your family needs an additional parking pass for immediate family members, please contact Annie Fiscus at family.relations@thon.org.

All families receive a personalized schedule in their family bag that is received THON Weekend. Each schedule lists the specific events that your family signed up for, as well as location, time, and any additional information. If you have any questions about your family’s schedule, feel free to ask a Family Relations Captain!

Each committee is assigned a different color to represent their committee.

• Communications- Kelly Green
• Donor Relations- Royal Blue
• Entertainment- Orange
• Family Relations- Baby Blue
• Finance- Forest Green
• Hospitality- Hot Pink
• Merchandise- Light Pink
• Morale- Yellow
• OPPerations- Navy Blue
• Public Relations- Purple
• Rules and Regulations- Red (Captains wear black)
• Special Events- Maroon
• Supply Logistics- Charcoal
• Technology- Safety Green

Overalls, Captains, and Committee Members also wear pins THON weekend that denote their particular committee.

That’s up to you! Once on the floor, you can meet up with your organization, mingle with the dancers, participate in floor activities, etc. Also, from the floor, you will have access to the South Annex and Family Lounge.

The best advice is to layer! Although THON is in February, the Bryce Jordan Center can be very hot. Most volunteers in the BJC wear shorts and a t-shirt. As a family member, you can wear whatever makes you comfortable. If nervous about getting too cold, bring a light jacket or sweatshirt. You should wear tennis shoes since there is no sitting on the dance floor!

Yes! Food, drinks, and healthy snacks will be available for your family at all family events, including, but not limited to Harvest Day, THON 5K, Family Carnival, and THON Weekend. For a full list of events, click the following link: www.thon.org/families/get_involved/events

The Celebration of Life video is created by the THON Family Relations Committee and has become a true cornerstone of THON, honoring the children who have inspired us with their courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength. The video, which is shown Sunday afternoon during Family Hour, is a special time to celebrate the lives of the children who fought the courageous battle against childhood cancer. It serves as a reminder that we must continue the fight for a cure.

Before the video is shared during Family Hour, there will be a private screening of the video for families only. During Family Hour, you can always choose not to view the video by exiting the stage when the Family Relations captains instruct you to.
We do encourage you to watch this video, as it celebrates the lives of those children who fought their battle against cancer with courage, honesty, wisdom, and strength.

Yes. There is so much to do during THON within the BJC, but some families enjoy taking a few hours outside of the BJC to explore downtown State College. See the State College page for some highlights to check out downtown.

If you have a problem THON Weekend, look for anyone wearing a volunteer pin, or a headset. They can alert the appropriate Captain or Overall. Although you typically communication with Family Relations, any volunteer is more than capable of helping you out!!

There is a male and female bathroom in the Family Lounge that is reserved solely for Four Diamonds Families. Keep in mind that the bathrooms on the floor level are reserved for dancers, so make sure that make a bathroom trip before going on to the floor.

Yes! No volunteer is allowed in to the Bryce Jordan Center if they are showing any symptoms of sickness. Many sanitary precautions have been taken to ensure that the Bryce Jordan Center is as germ-free as possible.

Yes, the BJC is fully handicap accessible! There are elevators to move from floor to floor, escorts if necessary, and a wheelchair lift to get onto the stage. If you have any additional concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Annie Fiscus at family.relations@thon.org.

Passes will be distributed as soon as you walk into the Bryce Jordan Center THON Weekend. Each family’s passes are determined by the number of immediate family members who were written on the family pass system form. Passes for family and friends outside of immediate family members will be awarded on a case by case basis.

All family members who are receiving a pass must be present at the pass table. If members of your family are arriving at different times throughout the weekend, they can pick their passes once they arrive at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Yes — even your kids; however, their passes can be pinned to their back! We ask that you wear your passes at all times during THON Weekend. Wearing your pass helps THON’s volunteers to identify you as a family. The floor pass system also allows us to protect all participants by only allowing pre-approved individuals on the floor and maintaining the floor capacity at safe levels throughout the weekend.

Your family pass permits you to be on the floor for the duration of THON Weekend.

Yes, but please remember that passes are only available for immediate family members. If someone else decides to come to THON that should be awarded a pass, please email Annie Fiscus at family.relations@thon.org. As long as you give us an accurate number, we can make sure that we allocate your family the proper number of family passes!

If you see someone breaking a rule, feel free to alert the nearest THON volunteer. They will make sure that the proper person is alerted.

If you know your child is on the dance floor then please come directly to the stage and tell Larry Moore, THON’s DJ. Otherwise, please alert any THON captain or committee member. They will immediately locate those volunteers who will be able to help you find your child.

An EMS Room, with trained personnel, is located on the event level near the stage entrance. For assistance locating this room, you may ask and captain or committee member.

In the event of an emergency, please immediately alert a Rules and Regulations captain or committee member, or anyone with a radio. Rules and Regulations volunteers will be wearing red t-shirts.

The family pass system is in place to ensure the safety of your family THON Weekend! Simply stated, it is a check in and out of the building, so we know where your family is in case of an emergency! Additionally, the pass system helps us to monitor floor capacity to make sure that the floor never becomes too crowded.

As a family, you will be awarded the same number of floor passes as immediate members of your family. If you have any special requests, please forward them to Annie Fiscus at family.relations@thon.org.

The Adopt-A-Family program, unique to Penn State Dance MaraTHON, pairs Four Diamonds Families with Penn State Organizations. If you choose to be paired, your family will immediately be assigned to a Penn State organization. This program helps families to feel at home THON Weekend, and gives organizations inspiration to raise money throughout the year! This program will surely enhance your THON experience, and is highly encouraged for all families.

We want you to have a worthwhile and beneficial relationship with the student organization you have been paired with. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Annie Fiscus, Family Relations Overall at family.relations@thon.org. It is a huge honor to be paired with a Four Diamonds Family, so if you’re not satisfied with the relationship, please let us know!

We suggest exchanging cell phone numbers with your organization to make it easy to meet up THON Weekend. Many organizations wear specific clothing that makes it easier to find them. If you are having trouble finding your organization’s dancers or members, Family Relations will be more than happy to help you out!

THON’s efforts are supported by 15 Overall Chairpersons, more than 315 Captains, 3,300 Committee Members, and more than 350 Student Organizations! By our calculations, an estimated 15,000 students participate in THON!

That’s up to you! Dancers appreciate things like letters from your family, pins with your children’s faces, fun toys, etc. More than anything, they want to spend time with you!!

Food will be provided for your family throughout THON Weekend. Therefore, you don’t need to bring any money unless you would like to buy merchandise, additional food, or souvenirs downtown.

Although we provide a deadline to register for all of our events, we realize that your families are busy, and will do everything in our power to accommodate to that. It doesn’t hurt to email Annie Fiscus at family.relations@thon.org to see if there is still space, but you should not have a problem! We thank you in advance for getting all materials to us in a timely manner!