Penn State trademarked “For The Kids” in 2020, owning the phrase for THON, including merchandise, services, and fundraising. But this ruling came with controversy over other dance marathons across the country that raised money for pediatric cancer, and also wanted to use the phrase.

University of Iowa hosts its own Dance Marathon, and volunteer Kaylee Tutrow filed a petition two years ago to cancel Penn State’s trademark. Now, a settlement has been reached for use, as long as it is for pediatric care fundraising.

Penn State is allowing any “group, individual, or charitable organization to use the trademarked phrase royalty-free to fundraise for research, care, and other support for pediatric patients and families.”

The royalty-free license also requires users of the phrase to consent to a list of terms, including one stating it will be used only for fundraising with charitable standards. Penn State reserves the right to review the use of its trademark, which can not be used for any false associations with the university.

While Penn State’s THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, multiple universities and charities have shared the emotion of doing all they can, for the kids. Before Penn State’s trademark, the University of Iowa renamed the street near its children’s hospital to “For The Kids Way,” before being forced to rename it “Hawkeye Wave Way” due to trademark restrictions.

A board ruled in December 2024 that Tutrow sufficiently argued that “‘For The Kids’ is descriptive and has not become distinctive of Penn State’s goods and services,” which led the parties to find this resolution.

Other universities and charities have not immediately integrated the phrase back into their fundraising.