Months of collecting money pays off for student groups

By C.J. Mohammed
Collegian Staff Writer

Penn State students confirmed the theme "Love Never Fails" as they traveled far and wide to raise money for this year's Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

Bearing large cans and big smiles, the students stood in front of local stores and intersections for a total of four weekends in search of donations. Many journeyed not only around Pennsylvania but throughout the Northeast as well.

Sonny Gornek (sophomore-nutrition), a member of Chi Omega, approached cars in a busy intersection in Westchester. "It's amazing because you feel really good about yourself and you know you're helping the kids and their families," she said. Many of the people she had talked to were big supporters of Thon and some had even donated $20 bills.

Jeff Tranell (senior-elementary and kindergarten education), a member of Phi Kappa Theta, could only recall the warm reception he received in both Wilkes-Barre and Pittston where he organized his fraternity's can drives. He remembered a time when the drivers of two large buses, stuck in traffic, took up collections and donated them to the canners.

Students had to leave early on the Friday of the canning weekend in order to find the best intersections--those where traffic backed up easily and there were safe places to stand. Once there, the canners were instructed to spread throughout the district, rotate in order to keep warm in the harsh weather, and to empty their quickly-filling cans.

Canning contributed a large amount to last year's $2.5 million raised for cancer research and support of children with cancer. Walt Breuninger (senior-management science and information systems), the Overall Public Relations Chairman for Thon, said that most of the money raised comes from canning. Although the amount of money collected by canning is important, Breuninger said that it should not be the main focus.

"What really matters is that we are helping children who have cancer. I hope people never lose sight of that."