[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H994-H995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING PENN STATE UNIVERSITY IFC/PANHELLENIC DANCE MARATHON
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1112) 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.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1112
Whereas the Penn 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 also 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 $68.9 million since 1977, when the two
organizations first became affiliated;
Whereas in 2010, THON set a new fundraising record of over
$7.83 million, even after the previous record of $7.5 million
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 suppport 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, ranging from high schools to colleges and
beyond, and continues to encourage students across the
country to volunteer and stay involved in great charitable
causes in their community: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(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 recordbreaking THON.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Thompson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut.
General Leave
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during
which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on
House Resolution 1112 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Connecticut?
There was no objection.
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
[[Page H995]]
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1112,
which recognizes Pennsylvania State University's Dance Marathon fund-
raiser for its enthusiastic continued support of the Four Diamonds Fund
at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. This is an event which was
first started in 1972. It raised $2,000 in that year, and since then
has continued on an annual basis and has raised a staggering amount of
money for an incredibly good cause, the Children's Hospital at the
Hershey Medical Center.
I know the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), the sponsor of
this resolution, is far more familiar with the history of this
extraordinary effort than I am, and I would just as soon defer to him
to talk about this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today, proudly, in support of House Resolution
1112, congratulating the Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic
Dance Marathon--or THON as it's referred to at Penn State--on its
continued success in support of the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State
Hershey Children's Hospital.
Pennsylvania State University, or Penn State, is a public research
university founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania.
The school was renamed Pennsylvania State College in 1875, and in 1889
it became Pennsylvania State University. Today, Penn State offers 160
different majors, and over 43,000 students are enrolled at the
university's main campus in State College, Pennsylvania, just miles
from my home town.
Penn State has a strong reputation for its academic, athletic, and
civic excellence. It is known as one of ``the public ivies'' and also
is known for its community involvement. The Penn State Hershey
Children's Hospital at the Penn State Medical Center in Hershey,
Pennsylvania, is the only Children's Hospital located in south central
Pennsylvania and the home of the region's only level 1 NICU. The
hospital is a leader in several specialties and has ranked higher than
90 percent in patient satisfaction.
The Four Diamond Fund for the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital
was established to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and
their families through treatment. The fund has helped more than 2,000
families by offsetting the cost of treatment and additional expenses
incurred during treatment.
The Penn State Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic organize a
yearly dance marathon known as THON to raise funds for the Four Diamond
Fund. The first THON took place in 1973 and has raised more than $68.9
million since then. THON now has 15,000 student volunteers and is part
of a year-long effort to raise funds and awareness. This year's THON
raised over $7.8 million just last weekend for pediatric cancer
patients. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world and
helps to make a difference in the lives of children with pediatric
cancer.
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As a proud Penn State alumnus and Member representing them here in
Washington, I want to congratulate Penn State--the dancers, the
students, the individuals who make the donations, and the organizations
involved in the THON event. I want to recognize them for their
commitment to helping others. Their activities have truly touched the
lives of so many.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, a little over a week ago, I spent a very
memorable and moving afternoon watching Penn State students taking part
in THON, the annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. THON at
Penn State is no small event. It remains the largest student-run
philanthropy in the world which since 1977 has raised over $68 million
for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital to fight
childhood cancer.
THON involves over 15,000 student volunteers from Penn State's
University Park campus and its 19 commonwealth campuses. Over 700
dancers take part in THON's marquee event: a 46 hour dance marathon at
the Bryce Jordan Center. Thousands of other students join in as
moralers, family and public relations, entertainment, donor relations,
finance, communication, hospitality, logistics, technology, rules and
regulations, and `OPP'erations team members. These students' year-long
efforts culminate in THON weekend--truly an amazing and uplifting sight
to see.
All of the student dancers, volunteers and sponsors who participated
in this year's THON deserve recognition from Congress and the thanks of
Americans everywhere for their work to help end the scourge of
childhood cancer. Their hard work resulted in raising $7.83 million
this year, breaking last year's record of $7.5 million.
I am proud to say that my own daughter was among the hundreds of
students who took part in THON 2010. Ali served on the Morale Committee
``Jule Runnings'' and helped lift the spirits of exhausted dancers,
massage tired feet, and lead the hourly line-dance to keep everyone
moving to stay motivated for their cause.
Penn State students are joined by hundreds of Four Diamonds Families
from Penn State Children's Hospital who look forward to THON all year
round. Four Diamond Families often develop lifetime friendships with
the Fraternities, Sororities, and organizations that ``adopt'' them and
spend time with them throughout the year. At THON weekend you will find
the kids running throughout the event, participating in talent shows,
playing games with the dancers, getting piggyback rides and even
starting water-pistol fights with unsuspecting volunteers. The
culmination of the weekend is Family Hour--when families share the
struggle in the fight against childhood cancer with everyone in
attendance. This was a deeply emotionally moving hour that brought the
struggle of childhood cancer into a personal light. Some of the stories
had happy endings, some did not. But each story was an inspiration to
keep fighting for the cure for childhood cancers. These children and
families are why Penn State dances.
THON is a life changing event for anyone who attends or takes part in
the event. And while Penn State students are hoping to change the lives
of children affected by childhood cancer, more often than not it's the
students whose lives are changed by participating in THON. Love truly
does ``Belong Here.'' We Are Penn State--For the Kids.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, again, I urge strong support of the
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1112.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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