THON

Tamar Brill

I . INTRO

A. Hook: Raising over 46 million dollars in the past 35 years THON, a Dance Marathon at Penn State, is attributed as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world!

 

 

46 million dollars equates to:

1. 742 Corvettes

2. 20,909 Chanel purses

3. 2,174 in-state tuitions

4. 1,451out-of- state tuitions

5. AND 6,705 roundtrip First class tickets to London!

B. This significant sum of money raised over the past 35 years does NOT benefit superficial indulgences such as trendy, overpriced purses or a gaudy sports car, BUT directly benefits childhood cancer.

C. Please raise your hand if you know someone who is fighting, passed away or survived cancer. Most of us right?

The Cancer Cure Foundation estimated that about 555,500 Americans will die from cancer, corresponding to 1,500 deaths per day.

D. Students at Penn State assist needy families by organizing the entire event of THON which is comprised of dancing, advertising, and fundraising.

E There are a multitude of officer positions and memberships available within the eight THON sub-committees which can appeal to everyone’s interests. The 35 year old proud Penn State tradition has been refined over the years to ensure its success.

F. Thesis: ''Thon is a no-sitting, no-sleeping two day dance marathon that takes place every February; which involves 15,000 students who collaborate to achieve a shared goal: to help thousands of children fight pediatric cancer. ''

 

II. Point 1

Transition- THON did not just instantly become a million dollar charitable success when it was first introduced to Penn State in 1973.

1. The Four Diamonds Fund has overseen the event since 1978 when they made a permanent partnership with THON.
2. The Four Diamonds Fund was founded by Charles and Irma Millard who lost their 14 year old son, Chris, to Cancer at Penn State’s hospital located in Hershey Pennsylvania.
   1. 2,000 families since 1972 have been helped by the fund and about 90 new families receive their support every year as mentioned on the Four Diamonds website at www.hmc.psu.edu/fourdiamonds.

C. A direct correlation was revealed in 1979 between the money raised for THON and the survival rates of patients with cancer.

1. As described on THON’s website, www.thon.org “The pediatric cancer survival rates have decreased from 30% and even 80 or 90% in some cancers.”

2. In the early stages of THON there was one winner who won the Dance Marathon. Mike Cover was elected by his frat in 1978 and won. Mr. Cover emphasized this memorable, “At time passed,” he said, “it was an honor because it has become the largest philanthropic event on a college campus.”

D. In 1978, only 50,000 dollars was raised for THON. This seemed like a large amount of money at the time.

1. However, in 1992 student were successful in raising their first million dollars.

 

III. Point 2

1. Transition: In order to raise millions of dollars, a THON committee composed of students has been established to organize the event.
2. In April, a new board of overall officers is elected to lead the committee in organizing THON which are:

1. Hospitality

2. Communications

3. Finance

4. Morale

5. Operations

6. Public Relations

7. Special Events

8 . AND Lastly, Rules & Regulations

F. The committee organizes 700 dancers to dance for 46 hours in Bryce Jordan Center.

G. All sorts of organizations such as athletic groups, frats, sororities, and clubs select an allotted number of individuals to dance in the marathon.

H. The committee and other organization volunteer time throughout the year and 46 hours to raise money and have a memorable weekend.

E. All of the uniquely different committees reveal how THON can appeal to everyone’s interests.

IV. Point 3

A. Transition: The THON committee has employed many wonderful ways to fundraise for THON.

B. Fundraising is the sole reason for THON’s success.

C. As a surprise to many, a majority of the funds are raised from October until February not just on the weekend of the Dance Marathon.

D. Committee members have devised orginial methods to garner funds throughout the year by:

1. Canning

2. Pledge Booking

3. Letter Solicitation

4. Corporate Donations

5. Special Fundraising events

E.. THON is also promoted by word of mouth at school sponsored events such as the THON 5K, Family Carnival, THON Nights Out, and Blood Drives.

F. 42% percent of the student population work towards a common goal of “conquering pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers, and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund.” This is the THON committee’s mission statement emphasized at the website www.thon.org.

IV. CLOSING:

A. Transition: All of the different positions ranging from the supporters in the bleachers, dancers, and the committee members collaborate together to raise funds for THON.

B. Last year at the 2007 Dance Marathon, 15,000 students raised $5,240,385.17 as mentioned on their main website.

C. If you are interested in helping Penn State’s student body with THON on February 15^th in 2008, you contact the communications officer at communications@thon.org.

D. Each one of the 15,000 students, no matter how small the role, plays an important part to help defeat childhood cancer.

F. The objective of THON is to celebrate life by promoting the search for a cure for cancer. A Dancer in THON in the Class of 2002, Megan Freud stated, "When cancer is cured, we will dance for Joy...Until then, we dance for LIFE.”

.

WORKS CITED:

Cover, M. (2007, July 23). Winning 1978 THON. Telephone Interview presented at
 
Telephone.

Freud, M. (2007, July 23). Dancer at 2002 THON. Telephone presented at

Telephone.

Griffin, G. E. (2001). Cancer Statistics from NCI/ACS. Retrieved July 24, 2007, from The   

      Cancer Cure Foundation Web site: http://www.cancure.org/statistics.htm 

THON. (2007, February 15). The Four Diamonds Fund. Retrieved July 22, 2007, from  

        The Four Diamonds Fund Web site: http://www.hmc.psu.edu/thon/ 

What is Thon? (2007). THON. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from THON Web site: 

         http://www.thon.org

Dear Tamar, Good job today!!I think you did really great I thought your hook was awesome it showed that you actually took your time to go above and beyond what was asked. Your speech was very well organized, the only thing that I think you should work on next time your volume you projected your voice really well:)but I think that next time even if your a little softer the whole class will still hear you. But you did great!!-Kelsie

Tamar- Your outline looks great! GREAT attention getter. Looks like you have a lot to talk about..watch the time limit!Can't wait to hear you present tomorrow you'll do great!-Katie C

Tamar! I really love your intro! The listing of the price of items that THON money equals will really get everyone interested I'm sure of it! You have a lot of statistics so my advice would just make sure you seperate them through your enunciation.I'm sure you will be really enthusiastic about your speech, and I can't wait to hear it! -- Aimee

Tamar-I thought your speech today was well prepared and very informative. Besides pitch volume, your speech was really good, and you seemed very enthused by your topic, great job! -Eric

Hey Tamar, I thought you did very well today!! You are definitly a polished speaker. Volumn of course could have been adjusted, but otherwise, your research was very good, as well as your pace. - Jen

 

 Tamar good job today.  As everyone else said watch how loud you talk! Great introduction and goodjob!

 

Tamar I think your speech was really good, but I do believe that you dont have to talk any louder than your normal voice:) otherwise awesome speech

-Brielle

 

Tamar- good job today! I are a really confident speaker and it shows!  Next time longer eye contact and lower/more conversational voice.  Great speach, Great introduction..taking the time to figure out all the prices and stuff with matierials that relate to us students.  Good Job!- Katie Castellano

 

Tamar! Nice job on your speech. I understood that you knew everything about your topic. You were very clear on transitions and i enjoyed the interesting history about THON as well.

Watch out for your volume, but other than that, it was well-put-together. Great Job! - Alan

 

Tamar, as someone who also served as their classes President, it was easy to see why you speak in front of people the way you do. Your speech was very well researched, and I enjoyed hearing the differences in information between yours and Ashleys speeches. Great job on it.

---Sam

 

Tamar, good job on the speech today very informative and i liked the intro a lot... I would work on your volume tho i had trouble hearing you. Ryan S

 

Hey Tamar! Congrats on giving an excellent speech. It was very well researched, organized and interesting. I loved your conclusion, the quote was very powerful, it almost made me cry. Like the others said, the only thing you should work on for next time is volume and tone control.  In the beginning, you were a tad monotone but towards the end seemed a lot more enthusiastic, so just try in your next speech to sound like that the whole time! <3 Chelsea