Not everyone can dance at THON for 46 hours straight.
Some people literally don’t have the wherewithal for the challenging marathon, and plenty of others in the State College community simply aren’t Penn State students who are eligible to participate.
But local business leaders have found other ways to show support for the student-led fight against pediatric cancer.
THON media relations captain Graceanne Domino says that State College businesses are some of THON’s most ardent supporters. Some donate money, others donate food, and still others donate their services or merchandise to the cause.
Danielle Stemple, social media director with Lion’s Pride, says the apparel store is continuing a tradition that she’s “incredibly proud” to be a part of it. For the seventh year running, Lions Pride will donate 20 percent of its total February profits to THON – which she expects to be somewhere in the $30,000 range this year.
Stemple looks forward to running the “4 Weeks 4 THON” campaign each year as way to give back to the community. This year, the store is also donating 50 cents to THON for every new follower the store Instagram account gets through the end of the month.
“Every year we want to donate as much as we possibly can,” Stemple says. “When I was a student at Penn State, I was really involved in THON, so this is something that’s very personal for me.”
Aurum Jewlers also makes a donation to THON each year, contributing nearly $5,000 to the Four Diamonds Fund in 2014. You can help Aurum Jewelers top that number this year, and you’ll even walk away with a swanky new accessory for yourself.
Staff member Sharon Lester says the store coordinates with THON to design Penn State-themed jewelry to celebrate the annual dance marathon. The selection ranges from bracelets to pendants to watches and for each one Aurum Jewlers sells, the store donates a portion of the proceeds directly to THON.
“Many families that are impacted by THON will come in here and pick one of these up,” says staff member Babette Sabol. “When you talk to them and you see how much THON means to them, it really hits home. It’s nice that we’re able to help support that.”
John Lindo, owner of the Student Book Store, has seen first hand how much the State College community cares about THON. Just by putting a plastic box on his counter, Lindo has helped gather a staggering $15,000 for THON over the last couple years. All his customers needed was an opportunity to give, and they more than rose to the challenge.
Lindo also provides other donations to THON. This year, the Student Book Store is donating merchandise for the THON Youth Fashion Show, in which Four Diamonds children get to rock their favorite Penn State gear for an adoring crowd.
Other local business support THON in other, more edible ways.
Corner Room general manager John Briggs says his restaurant has been donating food to THON for longer that he can remember. Every year, the iconic downtown eatery hands over an immense amount of yogurt, granola and fresh fruit to help keep the dancers energized for the demanding weekend.
“It’s a good cause and supporting it makes us happy,” Briggs says. “We’re not just supporting the dancers; we’re supporting the kids they’re dancing for.”
For twenty years, Irving’s café has been donating bagels to help keep the THON dancers full and happy. Owner David Schoenholtz says the amount of bagels they ask for increases a little bit each year, but he’s more than happy to help meet that demand.
This year his business is providing 2,200 bagels.
“It’s something that’s universally accepted as great cause,” Schoenholtz says of THON. “I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t want to help. If a business is in a position to give, then I hope that most businesses would offer all the help they can.”
And it seems that most businesses do offer all the help they can. Domino says these are only a fraction of the businesses that support THON. Rapid Transit Sports donates the numbers the dancers wear, sweet treat shops like Coldstone Creamery and Rita’s Italian Ice run special THON promotions, ProCopy prints items like programs and floor passes, and even a larger institution like First National Bank sponsors events and makes donations for every new online banking customer they get.
To make a donation visit the THON website.
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