page_title: Pennsylvania State University
section_title: THON
hierarchical_section_title: Pennsylvania State University / Student life / Student organizations / THON
caption_attribution_description: Photo taken during the pep rally held during the 2007 w:Penn State Dance Marathon in the w:Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA.
context_page_description: The Pennsylvania State University is a state-related, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, Penn State conducts teaching, research, and public service. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction and online delivery. In addition to its land-grant designation, it is also a designated sea-grant, space-grant, and sun-grant university as well, one of only two universities in the country with such designation. Its University Park campus, which is the largest and serves as the administrative hub, lies within the Borough of State College and College Township. It has two law schools: Penn State Law, on the school's University Park campus, and Dickinson Law, in Carlisle. The College of Medicine is in Hershey. Penn State is one university that is geographically distributed throughout Pennsylvania. There are 19 commonwealth campuses and 5 special mission campuses located across the state.
context_section_description: Every February, thousands of students participate in the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), which has been "dubbed by supporters as the world's largest student-run philanthropy." In previous years, participants stood for 48 hours nonstop and performed a line dance at least once every hour to stay alert. In 2007, THON was moved to the Jordan Center and now lasts 46 hours. THON raises millions of dollars annually for pediatric cancer care and research, generally through the Four Diamonds Fund. In 2014, THON raised a program record of $13.3 million.
caption: Penn State Dance MaraTHON
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