On the block

Charity auction raises money for Dance Marathon

"Hop on the shrine,

At graduation time!

Never in four,

Roar Lions, roar!"

The 1998 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon Charity Auction kicked off Saturday with the dance marathon morale committee's performance of last year's dance marathon line dance.

The charity auction, held at the Nittany Mall, was sponsored by the 1998 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, the Nittany Mall, WRSC-AM (1390) and WQWK-FM (97.1).

The morale committee performed the line dance continuously throughout the day in order to motivate watching crowds and to show everyone what THON is all about, said Overall Morale Committee Chairwoman Lori Schwartz.

A crowd gathered and watched the line dance as a few people began to bid on the items on tables surrounding the Nittany Mall Center Stage, where the auction was held.

"Basically we have all the tables set up and we have members of the entertainment committee set up and staffed to man those tables when people bid or when they want to purchase items," said Allison Bentz, overall communications committee chairwoman.

Throughout the day, athletes from various University sports teams came to show their support for THON.

"I feel it's a very great cause," said Tim Vorhies, a member of the Nittany Lion wrestling team. "My friend's mom died from cancer. Everyone can relate to it. I think people should come out and support it."

The top sellers in the auction were two courses from Kaplan Educational Centers, a standardized test preparation service, which went for $500 each, said Emily Sharretts, overall public relations committee chairwoman. Another item that received a high bid was a football autographed by head football coach Joe Paterno, which went for more than $200, she said.

Ray Myers, of Paradise, bid for an autographed picture of University sports teams.

"I have two vices -- Penn State sports and toy trains," Myers said.

He said he bid because he wanted to support the THON charity auction, which he said is a worthwhile event.

"The event was very successful because we achieved our goals of bringing the Penn State community and the Penn State students together for a terrific cause -- benefiting the Four Diamonds Fund," Sharretts said.