Berks THON dancers (from L to R) Manali Desai, Samantha Hagenbush, Sydney Bankert, and Mariem Hanna represented the campus during THON 2024 weekend, Feb. 16-18. Penn State Berks placed fifth among all the Commonwealth Campuses.
WYOMISSING, Pa. — The Berks Benefitting THON student organization raised $34,090.75 and earned the fifth spot among Penn State Commonwealth Campuses. The results were announced at the end of the 46-hour dance marathon to benefit Four Diamonds on Feb. 18.
The overall total raised for THON 2024 was $16,955,683.46, which breaks THON’s yearly record for the third year in a row. From Friday, Feb. 16, to Sunday, Feb. 18, Penn State students from every campus gathered at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University Park for THON — the 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon to benefit Four Diamonds — which supports families battling pediatric cancer.
This year’s dancers from Berks included four students: seniors Sydney Bankert and Samantha Hagenbush, both kinesiology majors, and sophomores Manali Desai, finance major, and Mariem Hanna, civil engineering major.
The students hosted various fundraisers throughout the year, including Cuts for Kids, Pie in the Face, and the Inspire the Night benefit dinner, which raised over $16,900 for the organization this year.
About THON
In 1977, the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, known as THON, established its relationship with the Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Four Diamonds directly assists the families at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, while funding research in pursuit of a cure. To date, THON has contributed more than $190 million to support children and their families fighting pediatric cancer. Every year, more than 16,000 student volunteers devote their time and effort to raise money through fundraising events. The hard work of every volunteer culminates every February during THON weekend for a 46-hour dance marathon celebration in the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. Berks Benefiting THON, a Penn State Berks student organization, works collaboratively with THON at Penn State University Park to raise funds and spread awareness of pediatric cancer.
