Penn State Fraternity fines members for not volunteering

[blueGBI]

Originally posted by CarolinaDG
I'm surprised canning brings in that much money for you all. You guys sound hard core about it. We've always just stuck the cans in the office and told people to place them about businesses. Since this year is my first year as an alumnus, I was curious as to how much money comes from the alumni. We're in our 7th year, so our alumni aren't that old yet (i.e. still making under the $50,000 mark as a general rule) but I was curious as to how much support you all get from the alumni who give every year. That's got to contribute somehow to the numbers raising a bit. I know I gave $150 this year as a first year alumnus, but I plan on giving more each year, so hopefully when our marathon hits the 25 year mark I'll be giving thousands of dollars (hopefully I'll be able to afford it!) Also, you have more sponsorships, more dancers, and more in-between events. Call me a skeptic, but I just find it hard to believe that canning brings in the majority of the money.

Canning brings in a nice-sized portion of the money but its not all of it. Alot of people pledge money to THON and alumni do donate to THON. Some orgs have corporate sponserships. I know that for us, we do have alumni who donate a good portion of what we raise. Its not all canning, thats true but if you aren't in an org that isn't IFC/PHC or hasn't been around for years and doesn't have the tradition and contacts, canning is how you raise money for THON.

[33girl]

Originally posted by honeychile
But, it's going to happen. People will can, and those held captive by a stop light will either feel guilty and donate or ignore the canners in annoyance.

I realize you don't care for this method of fundraising, but I don't think people give because they feel guilty. They might just be feeling altruistic. Same with the firemen who have the "fill the boot for charity" and are always on Baum/Bigelow Blvd.

If I see canners and I hit the light at the right time, I give because I know it's for Thon. If I'm with someone else, I make sure they know that too.

No, I don't want to see people running across the street like dorks, but I can honestly say all the canners, boot holders, newspaper salesmen and flower salesmen I've seen on the street have been considerate (they didn't get in anyone's face that is) and didn't get into the flow of traffic.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by 33girl
I realize you don't care for this method of fundraising, but I don't think people give because they feel guilty. They might just be feeling altruistic. Same with the firemen who have the "fill the boot for charity" and are always on Baum/Bigelow Blvd.

LOL - I was almost quoting a certain person I was with while the canners banged on the window - only cleaning up the language!

I don't want to give the appearance that I don't realize that the Thon is important to PSU - two of my great-aunts were professors there. I am just against the practice of canning all together.

And if you think I'm not charitable, you should see my tax forms!!!

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by madmax
Do the math. 4 figures for a 50 member organization is not that lucrative. That works out to $20 per member. McDonalds in my area pays about $8/hour x 8 hours x 50 members = $3200 for each day of work.

Assuming that McDonald's needs 50 employees that day for 8 hours...

[alphaalpha]

I love raising money for charities, but with the economy right now i would be VERY upset if i had to give up my job even for the day for someone else to raise money for charity. I need every cent i have to live (actually need more but that is another story). I understand what someone is saying, but with todays economy getting donations is a better idea than taking a job away from a minimum wage employee who lives pay check to paycheck.

just my two cents.
debbie

ps plus there are many programs online that can allow groups ( or individuals) to make money and not taking away jobs from other people who need the job.

[kddani]

Originally posted by alphaalpha
now i would be VERY upset if i had to give up my job even for the day for someone else to raise money for charity.

Why would you be giving up your job? i'm puzzled b/c I didn't see this mentioned.

If you're talking about the McDonalds comments... I don't think anyone was serious, but it's more a comparison about what else could be done with your time to make the same amount of money that doesn't involve playing in traffic and begging for money.

As I said earlier, if people make money from canning, good for them, but it's not something that i'd support or give money to.

For the people who give 10s or 20s... they've gotta know someone that's involved with THON or have some other tie to it. Who else, no matter how wealthy (being that many wealthy are also very stingy!), would just randomly give out 10s or 20s to people on the street?

Outside of State College (where PSU is located) and people who went there or know something about it, people don't know what THON is. I didn't know what it was until I saw someone talking about it on GC. And I live in an area with lots of PSU alumni!

Also, when people are canning, usually you don't even have enough time to see what they're canning for. Usually I just see the Penn State logo. Which, as a die hard Pitt person, is enough to turn me away

I'm also always wary to give to canners b/c you really don't know where the money is actually going. There are many people out there that will just take the money for themselves. If they're wearing greek letters, it might make them slightly more credible in my eyes, but I still know of chapters that do it as a fundraiser for themselves- give like 20% to charity and keep the rest for their chapter or something like that.

[AGDee]

Actually, the McDonald's in my area gives three hour chunks of time to a charitable organization one day a week. McDonald's has cannisters for receipts and the organization gets 100% of the profit for the receipts put in the cannister. They do it for schools, cub scout/girl scout troops, etc. It's usually on a Tuesday night. If you publicize well, you can raise a couple thousand in those 3 hours. It may be something to check into as a fundraising opportunity. Adult leaders help bus tables and keep things tidy in the dining area under the guidance of the usual McDonald's staff. It gives McDonald's good PR as a contributor in the community and keeps people coming back!

(I do realize nobody really meant to go work at McDonald's and I have nothing against canning, it just reminded me of this idea for an easy philanthropy)

Dee

[CarolinaDG]

I dunno, I live in South Carolina and I'm aware of what Thon is. Granted, I was on DM exec, but it's pretty legendary.

[kddani]

Originally posted by CarolinaDG
I dunno, I live in South Carolina and I'm aware of what Thon is. Granted, I was on DM exec, but it's pretty legendary.

But you're Greek, you're on GC, and you were on DM exec. So it would be legendary to you, but not to the average person. Heck, most greeks don't even know about it.

Thon raises a ton of money for a very worthwhile cause and i'm not trying to knock it. It's well known in certain circles, but your average Joe Blow who would be driving past the canners doesn't know that. And even if they did it's generally not made real clear that it's for Thon... it's usually pretty small on the can.

BTW- there's been times when i've seen people canning for something at Pitt or somewhere, and maybe I would give them some change. But I don't have time to find my wallet or even dig into my consol to find the change usually. I actually tried to do this last night... some homeless guy was LAYING on the ground with a sign in a very busy, very narrow area of highway (for you yinzers... in the bathtub on 376 by downtown), but I couldn't get to my money fast enough. I figured if he's desperate enough to be there and risk being killed, he's not faking. There's no shoulder, there's maybe a foot between the white line for the outside edge of the lane and the concrete barrier.

Interesting enough i've seen college students canning in this same area... stupid stupid stupid.

[LionTamer]

Even though folks say they go to different states to can, most of it takes place in Pennsylvania, and a huge proportion of Pennsylvanians either went to Penn State or have someone in their circle of family/friends who did, so there's a very high awareness of THON. This is especially true in the Phila and Pitss 'burbs where most of the canning takes place.

So folks are aware that it's a very legit charity (like when you see firemen with their trucks out with their boots) which increases the likelihood that people pitch in $1, $5, $10, $20 vs. dimes and quarters.

I always ask what Greek org they're canning for, and if it's guys, what sorority they're doing it with. My SO, not a Penn Stater, said "that's pretty nosey - asking what sorority a guy's 'doin' it with' ".

I think he was being deliberately obtuse.

Congratulations to all the participants for amazing work! Makes me proud to be a Penn State Greek alum!!!!!

[polarpink]

For the people who give 10s or 20s... they've gotta know someone that's involved with THON or have some other tie to it. Who else, no matter how wealthy (being that many wealthy are also very stingy!), would just randomly give out 10s or 20s to people on the street?

That's me! I don't mind giving money to good causes. If I see people who are enthusiastic about a worthy cause- whether I have a tie to it or not- I don't mind donating. If I can afford it, why not? A lot of people DO have ties though.

Although most people in Indiana are familiar with Riley which helps ALOT when you can for them, many people around here just give because they can. I am lucky that I know wealthy people who aren't very stingy. The generosity in my community is impressive.

Especially when you are in an upper-middle class/affluent area, lots of sons/daughters were/are in college probably doing the same thing. You often heard- "My (name) is raising money for them too!"

[BSUPhiSig'92]

I know when we used to can in Indiana (Muncie), we would usually have a few people that would give $10-$20. Usually depending on the cause. What I always thought was interesting, was that many times the people who really went out of their way to donate were the one's who looked like they could least afford it.

My most memorable experience though was once having a "drive-by butt-grabbing" while I was standing in the median once!

[PSUSigKap]

i've had people give me $20's because they knew someone with cancer and just thought it was a good cause, not knowing anything about THON.

[LionTamer]

PSUSigKapp -- I had people come back to the door with $20s crying, saying things like "I just lost my dad to cancer" or "my little niece has childhood cancer." It used to break my heart, and get me crying.

Shows how important it is to work with a charity or cause that people in the community can relate to.

----
Sidenote: our national wasn't always thrilled to hear we had raised $100K for Dance Marathon and next to nothing for Special Olympics, ASA's national charity. Now they have Greek Gods and Goddesses, not Anchor Splash, but better than a sharp stick in the eye, so maybe that will keep national happy.