Frequently Asked Questions - THON Weekend

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.