PSUAC Student-Athletes to Host Fifth Annual 3's for THON Fundraisers

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State University Athletic Conference, in conjunction with the conference's Student-Athlete Advisory Council, is currently holding its sixth annual 3's for THON event in an effort to support the Four Diamonds Fund for pediatric cancer research at the Penn State Children's Hospital. 

Started in 2020 by the PSUAC SAAC, the event is hosted by campuses during dedicated weeks in January and February. The 2026 edition of 3's for THON began January 24th and runs through February 7th. The effort has generated more than $25,000 in its five years (it was not held in 2021 due to the pandemic).

This year, nine campuses intend to hold more than 12 events coinciding with men's and women's basketball games. Penn State Beaver began on January 16th with an early fundraiser and will also host an event on January 31st. Other campuses hosting multiple fundraising dates as part of the 3's for THON initiative include Penn State Scranton (January 31st and February 3rd) and Penn State York (January 24th, 31st and February 6th, 7th). 

The PSUAC SAAC is comprised of two members from each campus, who in turn work with their campus SAAC and THON groups to organize the event. The fundraisers include half-court shots, donation boxes, raffles, and other contests. Perhaps the most popular is the Pie in the Face event, made famous at Penn State Mont Alto as student-athletes, faculty and staff volunteer to get a whipped cream pie thrown in their face by those who have donated to the cause.

"The event evolves every year as different students get engaged with it, which helps bring new ideas to the effort," said PSUAC Commissioner Ryan Ehrie. "We are proud that our student-athletes have stepped up to raise funds for a worthy cause."

THON is an annual student-run philanthropy event that began at Penn State in 1973 that has grown to its current operation, raising more than $254 million since its founding, and annually exceeding $10 million for much of the last decade. Several other institutions throughout the country, both colleges and high schools, have since begun conducting their own mini-THONs to benefit organizations in their own communities.

If you are unable to attend a game but wish to donate to the cause you can follow this link. To credit a particular campus, click on "Credit an Organization" and then select the organization you wish to credit. In this case, please select the campus name to ensure their organization is credited with the donation.

THON weekend is scheduled for February 20-22 in the Bryce Jordan Center. The 46-hour event sees dancers stand through its duration while members of their organization cheer from the stands. Musical guests and other skits are also performed throughout the event.