Monday, Feb. 17, 1997

Marathon stomps previous record

Fund-raiser tops itself once again

By STACEY CONFER
Collegian Staff Writer

It happens nearly every year the event is held -- the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon tops the previous year's total.

Members of the overall 'Thon committee hold the grand total before the crowd (right). Below, Kaylauni Gonzalez, 5, of Lebanon, plays with a magnetic drawing pad during the dance marathon just after midnight on Friday evening. Gonzalez's brother, Rico, died of cancer two years ago, but the family has continued to make the dance marathon a tradition. (Collegian Photos / Illan Sherman - click for full size image)

This year, the 270 couples which took part in the event raised a record-breaking $1,528,425, announced 1997 Overall Chair Alyssa Cherkin. Last year, the event raised $1,214,257 for the Four Diamonds Fund, an organization which assists families of children with cancer.

At the conclusion of the dance marathon last night, Cherkin spoke about the meaning of dance marathon and its significance to families and children with cancer. "The most special dance marathon will be the one we do not have to have," she said.

Until a cure for cancer is found, Cherkin said, dancers will continue to assist the fund by staging the marathon.

Money raised by the event is the major source of funding for the Four Diamonds Fund. In the months before dance marathon, organizations competitively solicit donations in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Students said the competition is a necessary part of the fund-raising process.

"If it wasn't for the competition, people would be slacking," said Rich Cordero, member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, 321 E. Fairmount Ave.

Alpha Tau Omega, the top Greek money-raising organization last year, again topped the list of Greek organizations this year, Cherkin said.

Top Greek money-raising organizations were:

First place -- Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, 2 Ritner -- $175,802
Second place -- Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, 328 E. Fairmount Ave., Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, 101 South Cooper -- $150,430
Third place -- Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, 409 E. Fairmount Ave., Alpha Chi Omega sorority, 101 South Hibbs -- $91,340

Top independent money-raising organizations were:
First place -- Phi Gamma Nu fraternity -- $39,754
Second place -- Kappa Phi Sigma fraternity -- $20,511
Third place -- Phi Chi Theta fraternity -- $15,422

Other dancers received special recognition at the conclusion of dance marathon.

Of the 13 Commonwealth Campuses taking part in the event, the York Campus placed first, raising $3,175. Alumni dancers Rick Funk and Steve McAskill raised an additional $14,531 for the Four Diamonds Fund.

While some focused on the final total during the last hours of dance marathon, others chose to concentrate on what had moved them to take part in the event.

"When the kids got here, it wiped the afternoon away," said dancer Robert Bell as the 48-hour-event neared its close.