Nearly 300 students clad in white '100 Days 'Til Thon' T-shirts stood in the formation of the letters "T-H-O-N" on the Old Main lawn yesterday afternoon as a part of the day's celebration.
As a photo was captured from the Old Main bell tower, participants held up their hands, forming diamonds with their index fingers and thumbs to symbolize the Four Diamonds Fund, which allocates support for families battling pediatric cancer.
Michelle LaBoda (senior-kinesiology), communications chair for the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon), said people were invited via e-mail, and captains and committee members were encouraged to wear their white 100 Days T-shirts. Most participants wore the suggested shirts, mostly with jeans, although there were a few colored shirts, and one student dressed as a silver cardboard robot.
Thon spirit was spread throughout the day's celebration. Colorful balloons and streamers decorated the entryway of the HUB-Robeson Center, and the line dance, memorized by thousands last February, was reincarnated.
With about three months left until Thon, preparations are already being made for the Feb. 22 weekend 46-hour dance marathon.
To celebrate the preparations and raise awareness about the event, various Thon committees and student organizations set up tables on the first floor of the HUB yesterday.
"Thon is every day," not just in February, said Dan Cocco, Thon 2008's overall chairman. "This year's 100-day celebration is amazing in all aspects."
Contests and raffles are tactics being used by more than one group to raise money for the philanthropy.
The Student Philanthropy Council was promoting their fundraiser, "Four More for Four Diamonds," in which they are asking each student to donate $4 in hopes of raising a total of $160,000. The money will be organized by class year, with the winning class potentially being announced during Thon.
Another contest initiative is the Thon raffle. For $5, a ticket that enters the buyer into the running to win smaller prizes as Thon approaches and grand prizes at the actual event in February can be purchased.
Sean Stokes (sophomore-engineering science), who sold raffle tickets yesterday, said Apple has agreed to donate some of the prizes, potentially an iPhone and iPods. The grand prizes, Stokes added, are a new car and a trip to London.
All prizes have been donated, so all of the money raised by the raffle tickets benefits Thon, Stokes said.
Leftover Thon 2007 merchandise was available at discounted prices in the HUB, as well as this year's Thon products and '100 Days 'Til Thon' T-shirts.
The Four Diamonds Recycling Effort was promoting its fundraising technique by collecting aluminum cans and turning them in for money. All of the money raised will benefit Thon, with the top three participating organizations winning money credited toward their Thon total.
Other organizations celebrated 100 Days 'Til Thon in more unusual ways. The Penn State Powerlifting Club hosted a bench press competition last night to raise money for Thon. The club, which is in its second year, held the event last year, but this was the first year in which the proceeds went to Thon.
Dan Continenza, president of the club, said the event raised about $1,000.
-- Collegian Staff Writer Caitlin Cullerot contributed to this report.
