This year, Terp Thon raised a total of $604,318.24 FTK. On Saturday, I went to my second Terp Thon ever. Except for the change in venue and the addition of a free snack table (epic), I felt exactly the same as I had one year ago, standing for 12 hours in Ritchie Colosseum. For those of you who missed it, here is a basic breakdown of the event:
Setup
Visually, the room looked pretty much the same as it did at Ritchie. The high standing tables were convenient for eating and for leaning on when your back and feet got tired. Having the bathrooms inside and on the same level as the dance floor made it easier to monitor and internal members were able to see people sitting down on the side. The small gym in the underbelly of the Xfinity Center was about the same size as Ritchie and definitely gave everyone enough space to dance their little hearts out.
Music
There definitely could have been more hype to the playlist, but overall it got everyone up and moving the whole day, which is its main purpose anyway. The song used for the morale dance was a classic mash-up of popular songs and had everyone singing along.
Competition
This was crazy. The competition for who would be the top fundraisers pushed organizations to raise thousands before the event, and then huge amounts more the day of. There were a ton of incentives like different meal options, special desert, being recognized as a top fundraiser with the Comma Club pin and a trophy for the organization that raised the most. The one incentive that people did miss, though, were the puppies that came last year.
Top Fundraisers
Sorority: Alpha Epsilon Phi - just over $50,000
Fraternity: Zeta Psi - just over $16,300
Individual: Emily Ingall - almost $12,000
The Vibe
The Terp Thon vibe was as strong as ever. Everyone was either dancing, eating or playing with the kids. When 10 p.m. rolled around and Power Hour started, everyone leapt into overdrive and you could feel all of the participants pushing themselves to their absolute limits, knowing that was it.
Power Hour is what makes Terp Thon special. It's the time that makes you realize you are there for a reason and that reason matters so much more than any tiredness and ache you feel. Watching a group of girls who were experiencing it for the first time, I was able to feel and remember what the experience had given me a year ago when I was in their shoes.
The Kids
This is the reason why everyone comes out to dance every year. The kids are why you donated money, why you or your friends or your family members stood, or danced, on their feet for 12 straight hours. The Miracle Kids put on a talent show and their families told their stories and inspired the crowd. They reminded us why we were there and why this event is actually so important. All of the kids and families are currently in a relationship with Children's Miracle Network. They are living proof of our time, money and resources actually making a difference.
FTK!!