Canning Weekend Lined up for Penn State THON

Penn State students will be out in force this weekend for the second canning weekend of the 2010-2011 THON season.

Four canning weekends give students visible opportunities to collect cash and spare-change donations before the 2011 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, scheduled for Feb. 18 to Feb. 20. Participants brandish their ‘THON’-emblazoned cans along busy roads, shopping centers and elsewhere throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

The first canning weekend of the season was held in October. The last two are slated for Jan. 21 to Jan. 23 and for Feb. 11 to Feb. 13.

‘Canning is not only a great way to raise money to help kids fight cancer, but also to raise awareness about THON and The Four Diamonds Fund beyond the Penn State community,’ Jony Rommel, THON public-relations chairperson, said in a news release. ‘Students are really looking forward to the second canning weekend as a chance to continue to build upon their fundraising efforts for THON 2011.’

An average of 269 Penn State student organizations participate in each canning weekend, according to THON.

Billed as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON supports pediatric-cancer research and treatment by financing The Four Diamonds Fund. A variety of public and private fundraising efforts continue year-round and culminate in the annual, 46-hour, no-sitting dance marathon held in the Bryce Jordan Center.

THON’s fundraising total unveiled at the last marathon was more than $7.9 million.

Related content

• The StateCollege.com THON page