In addition to spreading awareness about pediatric cancer, THON’s overall committee is hoping to make the organization more environmentally friendly.
The Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon’s 4DRE, Four Diamonds Recycling Effort, is a fundraiser held to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund and to promote a healthier ecosystem, Cat Powers said.
Powers, overall public relations chairwoman, said that the effort’s catch phrase “for the kids, for the planet” truly encompasses its importance of the issues for the Penn State and THON community.
THON 4DRE was created in 2008 and was formed to serve as a creative way to raise funds for the Four Diamonds Fund as well as inform students of the importance of recycling, she said.
“It engages our volunteers in a unique way, which is beneficial to THON as well as the campus,” Powers (senior-public relations) said.
Overall OPPerations Chairwoman Michelle Gettle said this year she really wanted to see THON 4DRE grow not just in the THON organization, but also in the Penn State community. She said with the help of her fellow captains and Recycling Efforts Coordinator Benjamin Dodge, they were able to create a video to spread the awareness and inform the community about how it can get involved.
With a growth in the effort and awareness, there has been an increase in involvement compared to previous years, Gettle (senior-civil engineering) said.
“4DRE is a great way to support the mission to THON, while also saving the planet,” she said. “I hope to see it only grow more and more in years to come.”
Donor and Alumni Relations Captain and member of Penn State Student Sustainability Advisory Council Daniel Conner said that the effort is a great way to “harness all the energy” that is built up from THON and put it toward encouraging others to participate in more sustainable practices.
Sustainability is more than just knowing recycling is important; it’s about changing a culture and making it more environmentally friendly, he said.
“THON is such a huge cultural force on campus, so this effort is a great way to intersect this culture with sustainability and hopefully spread more awareness on campus,” Conner (senior-energy engineering and energy business and finance) said.
To begin participating in the effort, THON chairs from each organization must register on THINK to receive a number, Dodge said. Once they have received the numbers, they must go to the THON office in 210 HUB-Robeson Center and sign out official THON 4DRE bags, he added.
Participants must then write their number on the outside of the bag and must keep the bottles and cans separate throughout their collection efforts, Dodge (senior-information sciences and technology) said.
Full bags must be dropped off at designated sites set up in Brill Hall (Eastview Terrace), Nittany Hall, Waring Commons (West Halls), Hastings Hall (East Halls) and Hammond Building, he said.
Dodge said to make the effort more exciting and to give the participants more incentive, there is a contest to see which organization collects the most bags.
The winner of the competition will be announced shortly after the collection ends on Feb. 2, Dodge said. He or she will receive an incentive shift pass, which will afford him or her a to-be-determined award during THON weekend.
“4DRE is a great opportunity for members of the THON community to give back to the planet, the university and, of course, the kids,” Dodge said.
