Students - How to Get Involved - Starting an Organization

Are you and your friends passionate about supporting THON throughout the year? Are you not affiliated with a group that already participates in THON? You can start your own independent organization! There are countless numbers of students on campus who want to get involved. With the right structure and the right motivation, the sky is the limit for what your organization can do! All organizations must be recognized by the university in order to participate in THON.

This section of THON.org is dedicated to helping you set the foundation for a successful and exciting year!

Step 1: Set out to have fun and support the kids!

THON isn’t just about the money that we raise. THON is about offering love and support to the children and their families. THON is about bringing a smile to a child’s face, giving them the opportunity to have a normal childhood.
THON is about having fun, too! No one wants to be put to work! As long as your focus is on having fun, everything else will fall into place!

Step 2: Set up an organizational structure and identify who your leaders will be.

Successful THON teams are led by passionate students who take ownership of the many roles required to run an organization. Suggested positions include Executive Chair, Canning Chair, Fundraising Chair, Family Relations Chair, and Inspiration Chair.

Step 3: Create a University Recognized organization

You can either go to the Student Activities Office, location in 209 HUB, or go to their website, http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/studentorgs/new.shtml, and learn how to create a new organization on campus. All proper paperwork must be filled out before you can register your organization with THON. Please remember that your organization’s name cannot have “THON” in it.

Step 4: Come to the THON Office, 210 HUB, and register your organization.

By registering your organization with us, we’ll be able to track your fundraising progress, add you to the THON Chair listserv, and pair you with a THON liaison whose job is to focus on supporting your organization.

Step 5: Share your passion and recruit volunteers!

Once your leadership team is in place, and you’ve registered as a THON organization, start spreading the word about your new team! Tell your friends and classmates about what you’re doing, and encourage them to join you at your meetings.

Step 6: Set up a meeting with a THON liaison.

So you’re registered with THON and you’ve got members…now what? By meeting with a THON liaison, you’ll learn more about the process of how dancers from new organizations are selected, how to successfully fundraise, how you can work towards “adopting” a family, and so much more.

Do you have more questions about being an Independent Dancer? If so, please e-mail Charlotte Kohl, Overall Communications Chairsperson, at communications@thon.org!