While the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon raises millions of dollars every year, other student civic organizations often get overlooked, Jane Richardson, USG social awareness committee director, said.

To combat this problem and get students more involved in philanthropy, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) social awareness committee organized the first Civic Engagement Extravaganza to showcase student groups involved in civic engagement.

The Civic Engagement Extravaganza began Saturday with a showing of Jaws by Penn State's chapter of Amnesty International at the White Building. Throughout this week, about 15 other student civic groups will hold events to raise money and awareness of their causes.

Richardson, the event organizer, said the week helps smaller organizations gain publicity.

"This is a chance for students to get involved in equally noble causes which go unnoticed with Thon," she said. "This also gives organizations to serve as a resource for each other and to help students become more involved."

The social awareness committee also holds roundtable discussions throughout the semester with 30 philanthropic organizations to expand student civic involvement, Richardson said.

As part of the extravaganza, Rescue Childhood, Amnesty International, AHSA for education and the Global AIDS Initiative are sponsoring a 5-kilometer run to raise money for their service projects.

Rescue Childhood President Bill Yukstas said his organization has never held an event with these three organizations.

"We've done events with each group, but never altogether like this," Yukstas said. "I think this event is a great idea."

Yuktas said his organization holds several fundraisers for children in the Dominican Republic during the semester, but these big events draw more people into the club.

"Big events like this help to get our name out to the public," Yuktas said. "It will hopefully help people find an organization to get involved in."

During the Civic Engagement Extravaganza, the Penn State Thespians is holding MasquerAIDS, an annual dinner-theater event to raise money for AIDS relief.

Thespian President Nick Semon said that the event was planned prior to Civic Engagement Extravaganza but that he thought the week was a great idea.

"It's good to affect the community," he said. "A positive change is always a good thing, and this will gain more publicity for a lot of organizations."