After 708 dancers sat down for the first time since Friday evening, the Thon overall committee revealed this year's total one digit at a time: $7,490,133.87.

This year's total surpassed last year's record of $6,615,318.04 by $874,815.83.

Money raised benefits the Four Diamonds Fund, which helps families with the financial burden of pediatric cancer.

At 4 p.m., after a countdown from 10, the dancers sat down while committee members and the audience remained standing to give them a round of applause.

Thon overall chairman Mike Hacke came to the front of the stage to congratulate dancers and thank everyone for their participation in Thon 2009.

During a raffle, overall committee members laid out pieces of poster board that would later reveal the total. When the raffle was over, Four Diamonds children held up cards that spelled out "For The Kids." Then, the total was revealed to an eruption of cheers and applause and a standing ovation from the dancers.

"Give yourself a round of applause. You did this," Hacke said.

For more information, pick up Monday's print edition of The Daily Collegian.