[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H2608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1100
  CONGRATULATING DANCE MARATHON AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY IN ITS MONEY 
               RAISING EFFORT TO COMBAT CHILDREN'S CANCER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring 
attention to a great cause and to congratulate the over 15,000 young 
men and women at Penn State University who participated in the largest 
student-run philanthropy in the world--THON.
  THON, which is short for Dance Marathon, is a student-run venture led 
by the Penn State University Interfraternity and the Panhellenic 
Council whose mission is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing 
outstanding emotional and financial support for the children, families, 
researchers and staff at the Penn State Children's Hospital.
  Madam Speaker, this is no ordinary student organization. Dating back 
to 1972 when the first THON was held, a small group of dancers raised 
approximately $2,000. This past weekend, over 15,000 student volunteers 
raised $7.49 million to fight pediatric cancer. Since its inception in 
1972, THON has raised more than $52 million for this worthy cause. And 
while this is a yearlong, never-ending fight against pediatric cancer, 
it culminates each year with a 46-hour dance marathon. With 708 dancers 
this year representing over 350 student organizations and 180 
individual groups, THON has shattered previous year's record.
  Madam Speaker, it is this type of leadership and dedication that 
gives me renewed hope that our Nation's best days are still ahead of 
us. As a proud Penn State alumnus, I join with colleagues such as 
Congressman Wolf, a Penn State alumni, in saying it is not only an 
honor to be associated with a first class institution, it is a 
privilege to share that association with the 15,000 students that 
participated in THON.
  We Penn Staters have a saying: ``We are Penn State.'' But, Madam 
Speaker, as you can see, it goes without question that these students 
are truly the ``we'' in Penn State.

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