For many THON families and volunteers, THON Weekend is the highlight of the year. The weekend is filled with exciting activities, music, dances, and more. Even in the middle of the night, the Bryce Jordan Center is filled with cheering supporters and dancers. The Line Dance and the Pep Rally are traditional favorites of volunteers and dancers, but the environment can be overwhelming. When the Bryce Jordan Center reaches capacity in anticipation for these events, it can be difficult to find a peaceful place to breathe. To ensure a positive experience for those with sensory processing disorders, THON 2026 includes the sensory safe space.
Located near Portal 28, the sensory safe space is located on the concourse and is available to all spectators. In the sensory safe space, there will be calming lights, fidgets to play with, and a quiet place to reset throughout the weekend. There will also be Sensory Bags at the Treasure Chest at Portal 28 on the Concourse! Available to every spectator, volunteer, and family, the sensory safe space is dedicated to enhancing the inclusivity of the event. Powered by XEL, THON is committed to welcoming every supporter, offering new ways to ensure THON Weekend is a fun escape for families and spectators.
The XEL Foundation is dedicated to the inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. With the help of the XEL Foundation, individuals with sensory processing disorders will be able to enjoy THON Weekend with the support of a sensory safe space available at all hours.
To ensure that THON is able to donate 96 cents of every dollar raised to Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Golisano 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.
