THON 2014 raises more than $13.34 million – The Collegian

Redefining possibilities was the goal of the 42nd annual Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon and as the 46-hour weekend came to a close, $13,343,517.33 was raised for the Four Diamonds Fund. The total broke last year’s record-setting $12,374,034.46 and climbed the collective total raised to more than $113 million.

That’s a lot money. The challenge is to keep the books open so we can see where the money goes. Five years ago, over 90%(!) of the money was going into the Four Diamonds Fund. Marketplace trust is considered 65%, 90% is excellent. THON ought to open up the books completely so that we can learn where the money is coming from and more importantly, where it is going.

10 bushels of gold to the journalist who can explain, with evidence, why THON has set a new record every year since 2004.

— Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) February 24, 2014

Some reasons I think the total just keeps growing and growing:

social media/Web – Spreading the word and donating online is easy.

Not just “For the Greeks” – THON used to be an only and then mostly Greek event, almost jealously guarded. When it started opening up, it became “a Penn State event.”

Bigger venues – THON went from the White Building to Rec Hall and now the Bryce Jordan Center, so there are many more people involved.

More THON alumni – the 37th year, so the list of people involved just keeps growing annually

Year round events – It’s isn’t just a few canning weekends and THON weekend, there are events all the time.