Penn State Thon raises more than $13 million in its 50th year

STATE COLLEGE — Thon 2022 raised $13,756,374.50, the organizers of the 46-hour dance marathon announced on Sunday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Thon, which was celebrating its 50th year at Penn State this weekend, has now raised more than $200 million for childhood cancer research and expenses for families through the nonprofit Four Diamonds.

Thon, which is billed as the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, returned to the Bryce Jordan Center after it conducted Thon 2021 virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

And the total for THON 2022, Spark Endless Light, is… $13,756,347.50! pic.twitter.com/eh6GY1mKgB

— Penn State THON™ (@THON) February 20, 2022

The dance marathon began at 6 p.m. Friday and ran through 4 p.m. Sunday. The weekend featured surprise musical performances by Chelsea Cutler and Bea Miller, and it also included the return of Thon traditions, including Saturday night’s Pep Rally with the Nittany Lions athletic teams.

“Thon never sets a fundraising goal. A huge part of our mission is fundraising, but there’s also so much more to it,” Thon executive director Kate Colgan said Friday. “It’s the emotional support we provide to our families and the memories we allow them to create and are there for as well, and so I think in our minds, any amount of money that we raise is that much amount of money closer to a cure for childhood cancer. I think I at the end of this weekend will just feel so proud of whatever that amount is because we know that we helped get us that much closer to a cure for childhood cancer.”

Dancers sit after 46 hours at THON 2022 pic.twitter.com/3Xt7tXKMZZ

— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) February 20, 2022

Last year, Thon raised nearly $10.64 million for Four Diamonds. The 2022 total marked the sixth straight year that Thon has raised more than $10 million for Four Diamonds, and the event has exceeded that total in 10 of the past 11 years.

Thon began in 1973 with Four Diamonds becoming the sole beneficiary of the fundraising effort in 1977. In 2013, Thon reached $100 million raised for Four Diamonds.

While this weekend marked the 50th Thon, it was also the first one without Four Diamonds co-founder Charles Millard, who died at 93 in November 2021. Millard co-founded Four Diamonds with his wife Irma in 1972 following their son Christopher’s battle with cancer.

“It’s a little bit bittersweet for me this year, but I’m always excited to be here surrounded by such love and dedication, and I know it’s going to keep him amongst us forever,” said Stacia Millard Bird, Millard’s daughter.