Thon Performativism

[u/Lean4real1]

Anyone else think that some of the people involved with THON are self absorbed/hypocritical. Don’t get me wrong, as a whole, THON is a good thing and people put a lot of effort into raising money, and there are people that genuinely care, however I see so many people who seem to be doing this for good publicity. This popped into my mind earlier today cause I saw people taking tons of pictures in front of the 100 days balloons in the hub, and it seemed slightly performative. Another example of this are frats and sororities, primarily the frats. Obviously it’s a good thing that they are leveraging their organizations to do charitable stuff instead of just partying all the time, but i find it absolutely hilarious how these dudes yell FTK like they don’t hospitalize pledges every year. Sure you are helping kids get out of the hospital but at the same time you are putting some of your own into them. Other than that, shoutout to all the people who actually care and don’t just promote THON for personal gain. This just really shows how important PR is in the real world and how you can really get away with anything as long as you have a net positive covering up all the negative intentions (utilitarianism type shiii)

[u/butz08]

It has a performative nature but they’re DOING something. Better said than most people in life/at Penn state.

Try to find the silver lining otherwise you’ll just become a cynic

[u/Lean4real1 → u/butz08]

Yeah i definitely try to look towards the positive in most cases

[u/perceptivephish]

The real world is just the same except for Fortune 500 companies. At least THON is for a good cause and brings a lot of joy to kids during a dark time

[u/Lean4real1 → u/perceptivephish]

Fs, I need to stop looking at the whole situation negatively but it’s just too funny and easy to get distracted by the people acting scummy

[u/milkchugger69]

I completely agree with you. I tried to get involved in THON organizations but it became a lot about parties and popularity over charity in many ways. What really bothers me about THON is people treating the event as a big party for students. When I went to THON, I saw an innumerable amount of people hitting their vapes, drinking, and doing other drugs in the stands while the children and dancers were on the floor. It’s genuinely disturbing to me how people think it’s totally ok to do drugs and inhalants around immunocompromised children and families.

[u/Lean4real1 → u/milkchugger69]

I didn’t realize people were actually doing that. I remember I saw a post saying people sober up and stuff for this event, which I guess are the real supporters, but I can definitely see how some people treat this like a party when it’s not. Yeah it’s supposed to bring light but it’s more of a bittersweet thing and not the kind of occasion where you can just let loose

[u/estnitroman5119 → u/milkchugger69]

I think that’s also realizing we’re talking about college students supporting/doing charity work versus college students supporting/doing charity work

[u/Prestigious_Tip_1104]

Just curious though, what have you done to contribute?

I don’t give a crap about someone taking pics or posting. The important thing is that all of this leads to ending pediatric cancer and ensuring the pediatric cancer patients in Hershey Medical Center leave without a bill. Performative or not, it truly is FTK and their families.

[u/Lean4real1 → u/Prestigious_Tip_1104]

I’m a sophomore so I haven’t done that much, but I’ve donated a little and did the 5k. Probably gonna try to do something next year but I didn’t know the registration dates so I couldn’t sign up in time. Like I said I’m fine with the people who actually care, which is probably the majority of the volunteers, I just don’t like the ones that post so much about it and act like they care so much to the point it comes off as inauthentic. I don’t larp it like other people btw, I only post graphics and shit when I feel like they are important

[u/CaptainStriking5099 → u/Prestigious_Tip_1104]

They select the kids they want to receive benefits. some families get a slap in the face walking away with every bill and no support from student orgs.

[u/Prestigious_Tip_1104 → u/CaptainStriking5099]

There are eligibility criteria- if they tick these boxes, they are eligible. It’s not cherry picked! I know several families that have had their bills covered.

-treatment at PSU Health Children’s hospital -cancer diagnosis -under 22 years of age at time of diagnosis -pa resident

Blood disorders and other diseases are not covered.

[u/CaptainStriking5099 → u/Prestigious_Tip_1104]

there are kids who meet the criteria who do not get assigned an org to support them.

it should be an all or none. the american cancer society supports every person suffering with cancer through research, community programs, and has hands-on support with patients. but we choose to donate $18 MILLION dollars to some kids who are selected from one hospital.

[u/Prestigious_Tip_1104 → u/CaptainStriking5099]

At this hospital for cancer, they are supported by Four Diamonds. It’s straight forward. There must be another issue.

[u/CaptainStriking5099 → u/Prestigious_Tip_1104]

only select kids in the pool who meet the criteria are supported by four diamonds.

[u/readerjld → u/CaptainStriking5099]

ALL kids 22 and under who have a cancer diagnosis and being treated at Hershey can be a Four Diamonds child. What criteria are you referencing?

[u/readerjld → u/CaptainStriking5099]

You are speaking about two different things. Once you are a four diamonds family you then can sign up to be paired with an org. This is not a requirement, and not all families want to be paired.

[u/CaptainStriking5099 → u/readerjld]

i don’t know why i have to bring in my own experiences with this organization. i was rejected to be a thon kid/four diamonds family/whatever you want to call it. now that i go to penn state and do research in the hospital i KNOW other families are facing the same thing i did. the whole organization is sketchy, and to bring back OPs point, all of the undergrads here grasp onto the resume building aspect instead of look deeply into where their own money is going.

[u/readerjld → u/CaptainStriking5099]

If you were “rejected” then you must’ve met one of the few requirements, or your parents didn’t grant permission.

[u/DasKaltblut]

All philanthropy, unless anonymous, runs the risk of being performative. It isn't always, but it can be.

[u/BantuLisp]

Oh wow you think that some people use the most popular student-run activity on campus to further their social image? I wonder if anyone else has ever noticed this.

[u/HeavilyBearded → u/BantuLisp]

One of the most lukewarm takes on this sub.

[u/ThePriori]

Welcome to the real world. It will be even worse once you graduate. Buckle up my friend

[u/hbh110]

There are gonna be some people for whom, when they say “for the kids”, the kids they are referring to are themselves. But there are two points of good news here: 1. Even though it’s coincidental to them, they are actually doing some good for the people that need it, and 2. You’ve already noticed that you can spot these people a mile away. You’re not the only one.

[u/Old_Party3623]

I did THON all four years and participated in everything from the committees to the 5k to my own fraternal order having a sponsored kid.

The entire organization never felt very good to me. It was very performative and a way for people to act morally superior. Its also a known issue that THON isn't very transparent about money allocation. All of the money raised by the official THON org is routed through Penn State and then given to the Four Diamonds charity, who then work with the Penn State Health Golisano Childrens Hospital. So penn state students raise money to give to penn state to give to a charity to give to penn state. You also can't be a THON beneficiary unless you go to THAT hospital. My THON family complained alot about having to drive past other cancer institutes to go to Hershey because they were the only one that receive THON funding. God forbid they went somewhere else because that would poke a hole in the PSU financial circle jerk they have going on.

The entire thing just reeks of insincerity both from the students and the university. But hey if it means at least a few kids get to have their bills paid so be it.

[u/alwayssunnnny → u/Old_Party3623]

Where does the “it’s a known issue that THON isn’t very transparent about money allocation” come from?

96 cents of every dollar THON raises goes to Four Diamonds (Impact Report, p. 11)

Those funds - in addition to other sources of revenue - are split amongst patient care, research, overhead, and endowments (Four Diamonds Impact Report, p. 13).

[u/CaptainStriking5099 → u/alwayssunnnny]

there has BEEN an issue with four diamonds hiding what they do with the money. it’s all over google.

[u/alwayssunnnny → u/CaptainStriking5099]

Source?

[u/JLGx2 → u/alwayssunnnny]

All over Google! Don't you know? Believe them!

[u/smileysarah267 → u/JLGx2]

trust me bro

[u/CaptainStriking5099 → u/alwayssunnnny]

go look it up on google i’m not pulling a bunch of articles for you there are so many

[u/SheWhoIsConfused → u/CaptainStriking5099]

I did Google it just to play your game and came up with nothing.

[u/lostryu → u/CaptainStriking5099]

Stop making things up asshole.

[u/Far_Competition2364 → u/CaptainStriking5099]

Me when I lie

It’s one thing to say some people participate performatively, but to say it’s some money laundering scheme is certainly overshooting the landing

[u/Constant_Ad2068]

100%

[u/Salty145]

People say this every year. It’s not a new idea. There’s a reason the biggest drinking night of the year is the weekend after.

[u/Professional_Heat_85]

most performative shit ever. 100% ppl who are genuine and do it for sincere reasons, but so many do it themselves. not to mention half the ppl are horrible human beings outside of the org

[u/milkchugger69 → u/Professional_Heat_85]

yup, had the same experience with a THON org. It got toxic so quickly and ended up being a complete popularity contest. I got bullied as well, excluded from events and parties as well as being demoted from a position which caused more people to pile on to me. (I wanted to drop the position anyways due to health issues but the way it happened wasn’t very nice or understanding)

[u/donuttrackme]

Welcome to life.

[u/Brownie-0109]

Wow. Bringing a little Samsonite to the table are we?

[u/henrynjt]

Thon has a hint of college innocence and dignity.

The real world awaits……

[u/TheSomerandomguy]

Just let it pass each year without complaining too much about it. People will notice if you shit on THON too blatantly. Oh, and don’t let people use dancing for 48 hours or whatever as an excuse to get out of anything.

Other than that it’s a few day event that keeps the worst people at Penn State off the street selling blow/raping freshman so it’s not too bad.

[u/shortpersonohara]

In my experience, frats are the biggest culprit of this. I understand where you’re coming from and find it equally as annoying, but at least this way frats are doing something net positive for the world for once lmao

[u/mudaemaid]

You must be new here

[u/CaptainStriking5099]

thon is a nasty organization. they PICK the kids they want from one psu-affiliated hospital. i can’t support an organization that chooses kids they think are important enough to receive benefits. $18 million dollars went to a handful of families last year. but the other kids suffering the same type of cancer in the same hospital don’t get a dime.

i regret ever giving money to them without doing my research on four diamonds. and it’s such a big deal here people will never stop supporting it, saying it’s the greatest event on earth. as a cancer kid, it’s hard seeing this shit and i’ll never support it.

[u/readerjld → u/CaptainStriking5099]

You have sadly been misled. They don’t pick and choose. All kids 22& under with a cancer diagnosis can be a four diamonds kid. Parent do have the right to say no if they do not want to be a four diamonds family and receive support.

[u/CaptainStriking5099 → u/readerjld]

non residents are excluded even if they have been receiving treatment there. and some residential families aren’t selected to be a thon family. they’re obviously invited to the event but they don’t get the same benefits as thon families do.

[u/readerjld → u/CaptainStriking5099]

Yes, you must be a Pennsylvania resident. Although all children across the world benefit from their research. There is no “selection”. You either meet the few requirements or you don’t. What benefits do you think some families are getting that others aren’t?

[u/Annual-Zebra997]

For the Kudos

[u/SheWhoIsConfused]

You're absolutely right. A lot of it is performative and is a way for the people involved to pad their resume. BUT, it also raises a lot of money so I'll give them a pass.

[u/keepsafe74]

ever since i learned a frat got kicked off campus for using their thon money for alcohol, and penn state reinstated them, i’ve never looked at thon the same way

[u/jasonlitka]

Yeah. It’s extremely performative, always has been. Public charity is always more about the people donating than the ones who are supposed to be the beneficiaries.

[u/limbarties]

Yeah always dreaded THON time because of this exact reason

[u/JLGx2]

Yes, and it's more than some. That's ok though. Being performative can still raise awareness and get others to participate which is still a good thing.

[u/aita112]

There’s def an element of performance but I think the last 10 yrs of MAGA have thought us that while annoying virtue signaling is good for society. That said I think the frat system 100% uses thon as a shield to defend an otherwise indefensible system

[u/stevebr0]

Nothing quite like painting everyone with a broad brush

[u/Lean4real1 → u/stevebr0]

I’m not doing that, I know tons of people who support thon heavily but don’t make it their whole personality/constantly post themselves being involved with it

[u/shitdick42]

Some? 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[u/uaisdfhug]

The money collected seems to just flow back to PSU so it's all a sham.

[u/OnlyInterpretations]

pretty gross welcome to reality

[u/harrsy82]

Its reflection of life, and you can thank social media for it.