Alternative Fundraisers are a unique way for raising money for THON™. They play a critical role in gaining donations that make an impact on THON families. The largest yearly fundraiser is THON Raffle, where supporters can buy a ticket for $5 for the chance to win various prizes, and get entered into the grand prize drawing during THON weekend! Other alternative fundraisers include bake sales, coin collections, restaurant fundraisers, and Pie in the Face. THON organizations, Independent Dancer Couples (IDCs), and committees can get creative with these fundraisers and directly benefit from them since the money raised gets credited to their organization.
Kaley Fisher, a senior, and Quinn Keyes, a junior, served as Family Relations Chairs for the Special Interest Org Ohana last year. Throughout the year, they held social events like pasta dinners and bake sales as efforts to help fundraise for THON. These events help bring the members of Ohana closer together as an org.
Fisher said she tried to coordinate “things where we can fundraise, but we can also get together and have a good time and get to know each other.” One favorite way Ohana fundraised was a bake sale with Apollo, another THON organization, at their food truck fiesta.
Fisher and Keyes’ favorite THON memories include the Final Four, the THON 5K, doing the Line Dance, and the time they get to spend with their THON Families.
Carter, the THON fundraising chair for Ski Club last year, shared the exciting events that Ski Club organized throughout the year to promote fundraising. Some of their most memorable include Pie in the Face and corn hole tournaments, which is Carter’s personal favorite!
Carter’s favorite THON memory is standing for 40 hours during his first THON Weekend! The Ski Club is looking forward to creating new fundraisers this year, all in support of the kids.
Alternative fundraisers not only allow org members to become closer to one another, but it gives them time to get to know their paired family. THON families can attend their paired organization’s alternative fundraisers, giving the kids a chance to be kids and create fun, new memories. Alternative fundraisers serve are a special way to raise money for THON so one day we can dance in celebration.
To ensure that THON is able to donate 96 cents of every dollar raised to Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, we heavily rely on donor support. These donations provide us the resources to create endless memories for our Four Diamonds families & foster a deep love & connection to our mission for our volunteers through Pre-THON Events, alternative fundraisers, & THON Weekend.
