$319,949.85 of the total dollars raised for THON this year came from Greek pair Alpha Tau Omega and Zeta Tau Alpha. The fraternity and sorority joined together to raise the most money of any Greek organization, more than $50,000 more than the second-place Greek couple, Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Sigma Alpha.

But you’ve heard this story before. 2015 was the 20th-straight year the duo has been the top-earning Greek organization for THON.

In addition to the three canning weekends, ZTA and ATO go on five canvassing weekends. At the start of the second semester, the groups travel throughout the East Coast every weekend to canvass areas and raise more money. THONvelopes and online donation requests are also a huge part of the fundraising efforts, ATO THON Chair Andrew Kielar said.

What sets the group apart from the rest is its dedication to alternative fundraising. Earlier in the year, it sponsored a golf tournament to raise money for THON. A T-shirt sale in the HUB also brought in money, according to Reema Pangarkar, ZTA THON chair said. Additionally, corporate donors are continually contacted, and social media interaction is greatly encouraged by members to raise money.

The group credits its success to the hard work of the individual members. Members are continually driven to raise funds to uphold their tradition of excellence.

“We hold our members to an almost impossibly high standard,” Kielar said.

Of course, continuing the streak is nice, but the organizations’ true motivation are the THON families who benefit so much from the money they raise. Because of the families, the members strive to work hard all year long.

“No one should ever have to go through what these families do every day, and for us, that is all the motivation we need to go away those extra canvassing weekends, stay up and write those extra THONvelopes, and continue to work to eradicate pediatric cancer,” Pangarkar said.

Congrats to ATO-ZTA, and all Greek organizations who worked so hard, on yet another great year.

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