Because of the elimination of one canning weekend and the lack of large fundraisers during the spring semester, THON members wanted to plan an event that would “boost morale,” said Cat Powers, overall public relations chairwoman.
And so, Chords for a Cure — a benefit concert at 6 p.m. Saturday in Eisenhower Auditorium — was born.
Powers said the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon committees have been planning and working hard since the summer to put the concert together.
“We are really excited about this event and hope that it will be a positive turn out and keep everyone motivated for THON weekend,” Powers (senior-public relations) said.
The name Chords for a Cure came about as a play on words that ties music with the organizations mission statement, she said.
“Everything we do is for the kids and for the cure, so we wanted to showcase that during this concert as well,” Powers said.
Entertainment Overall Chairman Joey Cassidy said he is excited to see the concert come together. Though THON has had battle of the band events in the past, this year its organizers wanted something that was larger scale and would get everyone excited, he said.
When it came to finding bands to perform, it was easier than they thought, he added.
“We reached out to bands around last spring and summer and received a lot of positive feedback,” he said. “THON is pretty well known across the country, so a lot of the bands were excited to possibly be a part of the event.”
Boyce Avenue and WALK THE MOON are well-known and positive bands that represent what THON is about, said Timeline Logistics Captain Shannon Holzer.
Powers said both bands have a great sense of family, which was important to the committees, adding that their style of music is similar to that which will be played throughout THON weekend.
“The bands captains had a huge undertaking, and they rose to the occasion,” Holzer (senior-journalism and Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies) said.
Students who wish to attend the concert can still buy tickets for $35 at Eisenhower Auditorium, HUB-Robeson Center ticket desk or the Downtown Theatre. Ticket purchases can also be credited to organizations by simply bringing the ticket or ticket number and organization name to 321 HUB between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. today. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.
“Overall, we’re just really excited and hope that this sets a huge precedent for the future THON members,” Holzer said.
