Student Book Store combines marathon and Valentine's Day

In celebration of Valentine's Day and in support of the 1997 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, the Student Book Store gave out prizes and 5,000 Kisses all day Friday and Saturday.

For a $1 donation, bookstore customers could pick three Hershey Kisses from a box. If one of the candies was a Hershey Hug, the lucky picker would receive one of several prizes, including gift certificates to The Corner Room, 100 W. College Ave., the Gingerbread Man, 130 Hiester St., The Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., and several other State College stores and restaurants.

All donations were given to dance marathon and customers were also given a 10 percent discount at the bookstore. Norman Brown, manager of the Student Bookstore, delivered a check for $424 from the donations of the kissing booth to the dance marathon yesterday afternoon.

The Penn State cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion mascot also came out to the bookstore to support dance marathon and three local radio stations broadcast live from the bookstore.

This was the first year the bookstore has done this kind of promotion for dance marathon, Brown said. The bookstore always looks to do something special for Valentine's Day and with the start of dance marathon falling on Feb. 14, it was perfect to combine the two.

"We have tried to support 'Thon a little more each year," Brown said.

The event's turnout and customer participation pleased Brown.

"It was a good crowd," he said. "There was plenty of participation. We hope to continue again next year -- we'll see how it works out date-wise."

The cheerleaders said they were happy to help the bookstore because of the support they have always received from it. They were also excited to see the participation from customers.

"If they know it's for 'Thon they give a little quicker," said cheerleader Shannon Conrad (senior-marketing)

Dance marathon committee members appreciated the support from the bookstore and its customers. Although there are many fund raisers for dance marathon, this was the first promotion run by a business.

The bookstore promotion was a great way to start up the big marathon weekend, said Amy Stacy, overall public relations chair for dance marathon.

"It's great to get everyone all psyched up," Stacy said.