Eleven-year-old Sara Culver's blonde ponytail was in one of the Ziploc bags Caitlyn Burns was holding.

Culver had been growing her hair out especially for this occasion.

"I've been told I've had pretty hair a lot and thought someone else could use it," she said.

Culver was one of 16 volunteers who cut their hair on stage at 9:30 Saturday morning for Locks of Love, a nationwide non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children under 18 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

This is the fourth year Locks of Love has been part of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

Burns (senior-elementary education) organized the event this year.

"I chose to do this because my friend has leukemia, and she lost her hair, and I'm doing it for her," she said. "So when I came to Penn State, I knew I wanted to get involved with this."

At 6:15 p.m. Saturday there was a second Locks of Love announcement, where Burns reintroduced the 16 women and others who had cut their hair this year.

"This morning you saw 16 girls donate their hair live on stage," she said. "I think they all deserve a round of applause."

The women were introduced as Letters to Cleo's "Supermodel," made famous by the movie Clueless, played. They all linked arms and bowed in small groups, showing the audience their short new 'dos.

"I was so nervous right before they cut my hair, but I knew I was going to do it," Kelly Cooper (senior-elementary education) said. "I've done it before, and it's for such a great cause so I'm really happy I did it."

Chrissy Mitinger, a stylist at Hair Loft by Charles, 419 E. Calder Way, who helped with Locks for Love, said most people were excited, some were nervous and one woman was crying before she cut her ponytail.

Marissa Musumeci, a 2003 alumna, cut 13 inches from her hair, which she had been growing since May.

She had cut her hair as a dancer in 2002 and decided to cut it again this year.

"I love my hair because it's long and thick," she said. "If someone else is going to get it and love it too, that's awesome."

Locks of Love was started in 1997 by Madonna Coffman, after her four-year-old daughter lost her hair, said Stephanie Gill, Locks of Love case manager.

The organization has only five employees and receives 3,000 donations a week from more than 1,000 participating hair salons nationwide.

"It's a very small sacrifice that will help someone else," Burns said.