III 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 488 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 19, 2010 Mr. Specter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Congratulating the Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) on its continued success in support of the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

Whereas the Pennsylvania State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, known as THON, is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, with 700 dancers, more than 300 supporting organizations, and more than 15,000 volunteers involved in the annual event; Whereas student volunteers at the Pennsylvania State University annually collect money and dance for 46 hours straight at the Bryce Jordan Center for THON, bringing energy and excitement to campus for a mission to conquer cancer, and bringing awareness to countless thousands more; Whereas all THON activities support the mission of the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, which provides financial and emotional support to pediatric cancer patients and their families and funds cancer research; Whereas each year, THON is the single largest donor to the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, having raised nearly $68,900,000 since 1977, when the 2 organizations first became affiliated; Whereas in 2010, THON set a new fundraising record of over $7,830,000, besting the previous record of $7,500,000 was set in 2009; Whereas THON support has helped more than 2,000 families through the Four Diamonds Fund, is currently helping to build a new Pediatric Cancer Pavilion at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, and has helped support pediatric cancer research that has caused some pediatric cancer survival rates to increase to nearly 90 percent; and Whereas THON has inspired similar events and organizations across the Nation, including at high schools and colleges, and continues to encourage students across the Nation to volunteer and stay involved in great charitable causes in their community: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)congratulates the Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) on its continued success in support of the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital; and (2)commends the Pennsylvania State University students, volunteers, and supporting organizations for their hard work putting together another record-breaking THON.