Abbreviation Atlas Purpose Philanthropy Executive Chairperson Kate Robinson | Formation 2005 Location University Park, PA | |
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Motto Dancing Today for a Better Tomorrow | ||
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 2016, raising $298,611.81; this was the sixth 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 Gerenas, with Four Diamonds Child Amarie Gerena, and the Johnsons, with Four Diamonds Child Samir Johnson. Atlas also has one legacy family with whom they are no longer officially paired, the Brobsons, with Four Diamonds Child Claire Brobson.
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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 founded in the Fall of 2005 by Matt Sterling and Chris Lucas with help from Boris Minkovich and Naveen Arora, all students in the Penn State Schreyer Honors College dorm in Atherton Hall. Starting with just about 25 students, Atlas 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, Chris Lucas and Boris Minkovich. The second year of Atlas's existence was marked by a significant growth in membership to over 140 members. 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 were the two highest totals for a single organization in a single canning weekend in THON history at the time. Atlas broke the record for most money raised by an organization in one year, raising $560,097.48 for THON 2013. This was the first time that any single organization had raised over $500,000 in a single year for THON and accounted for 4.5% of the overall total money raised for THON 2013.
For THON 2015, Atlas broke the canning record again, raising $127,545.10 in the first canning weekend, making it the best first canning weekend of any organization ever and the second best canning weekend overall, behind only themselves.
In October 2015, Atlas was officially paired with the Samir Johnson family who replaced the Brobsons as their third officially paired family.
Organization Info
Atlas has 11 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 or she 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 three "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.
During THON 2016's first canning weekend, on September 27, 2015, a group of volunteers from a Greek organization were involved in a car accident on their way back to Penn State. One of the passengers, Tally Sepot, lost her life and the future of canning became at question. Following the tragedy, the second two weekends were cancelled and were not rescheduled. In April 2016, THON overalls announced the decision to "phase out" canning due to safety concerns and a positive outlook for growth in third party fundraising. For THON 2017, there will be two canning weekends, one canning weekend for THON 2018, and none thereafter. Though the decision has since provoked criticism, it was one best made to ensure the safety of all volunteers, while alluding to the growth of innovation and new ways of fundraising.
However, in addition to canning, Atlas members send out solicitation letters, known as THONvelopes, to family, friends and alumni. These letters have also been digitally rendered to be sent via e-mail and are known as THONlines. Members can also solicit donors by holding alternative fundraisers in State College and their hometowns, or by placing donation boxes in businesses around the country.
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 the list of dancers selected annually to represent Atlas in the fight against pediatric cancer: