Atlas Benefiting THON

Atlas is a Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) special interest organization. THON is the world's largest student-run philanthropy which raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. Atlas was the top monetary contributor to THON 2012, raising $369,294.04; this was the second consecutive year that Atlas was the top fundraising organization within THON. Atlas currently has three THON families: The Smiths, with Four Diamonds child Victoria Smith, the Brobsons, with Four Diamonds Child Claire Brobson, and the Gerenas, with Four Diamonds Child Amarie Gerena.

Atlas is most recognizable for their fuzzy pink hats that they wear; these are the result of the need to be recognized on the online video feed of THON when their first THON child Victoria, was still in the hospital. Pink stood out, and Victoria liked the way that the fuzzy hats felt, so they quickly became the defining symbol of the organization.

Atlas was recognized in 2011 by the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center as one of the top 100 organizations nationally that are fighting cancer; they were one of the only student organizations given this honor.

History

Atlas was created in Fall 2005 by several students in the Penn State Schreyer Honors College dorm Atherton Hall. This small group of students was paired with a Four Diamonds family, the Victoria Smith Family, in their first year as an organization. They raised $26,007.85 and were represented by two dancers, co-founders Chris Lucas and Boris Minkovich. The second year of Atlas's existence was marked by a significant growth in membership. This growth resulted in the organization raising $86,595.68, which was enough to lead all independent organizations that year. Atlas adopted a second Four Diamonds family, the Claire Brobson Family, along with her siblings Will and Gabe, for THON 2009. This was also a record-breaking year for Atlas, as they raised over $200,000, becoming the first independent organization within THON to do so. Atlas shattered all records again in THON 2011, raising over $380,000 and becoming the first non-Greek organization to be the top fundraiser in THON, as well as setting a record for the most money raised by a single organization in a single year. Atlas also raised its one millionth dollar as an organization in 2011.

For THON 2012, Atlas raised over $102,000 on its first canning weekend, which is the first time in THON's history that a single organization surpassed $100,000 on a single canning weekend. Two days before THON 2012, Atlas was given a third Four Diamonds family, the Gerenas. This came as quite a surprise, since most families are assigned to organizations within THON much earlier in the year. Atlas raised $369,224.04 for THON 2012, being the top fundraising organization within THON for the second consecutive year.

For THON 2013, Atlas continued to break records. They raised a record $119,067.95 in the first canning weekend, then broke that record by raising $144,077.96 in the second canning weekend. These are The Two highest totals for a single organization in a single canning weekend in THON history.

Organization Info

Atlas has 10 executive board members, as well as over 300 general members. Membership is difficult to determine, however, as there are no "dues" to be an official member. Rather, each member participates by doing whatever he chooses to do while in the organization. Other than the dance marathon itself, typical activities throughout the year include the THON 5K, visits with their THON families, and four "canning" weekends throughout the year. Canning weekends are designated weekends by THON in which students leave State College for the weekend and go to various members' houses around the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York areas. Students stand on street corners with large coffees cans and solicit donations from passing cars. This is the most profitable fundraising activity completed by Atlas, and is the most significant portion of being a member of Atlas. Canning weekends are known to form tight bonds between those who go on a trip together.

Atlas also participates in Relay for Life, as well as sponsoring Alex's Lemonade stands, in an effort to continue their dedication to fighting pediatric cancer year-round.

Dancers

Each year, Atlas selects dancer to represent the organization in THON for the 46 hour, no sitting and no sleeping dance marathon. It is an honor to be selected as an Atlas dancer; there are currently over 300 members in the organization, yet only 10 get to dance each year, with many more deserving this opportunity. The following is a list of dancers selected annually to represent Atlas in the fight against pediatric cancer:

See also

• Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon
• Four Diamonds Fund
• Pennsylvania State University
• Cancer