Penn State THON receives top honors at international conference

Penn State Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) received the first-ever William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy last week at the Association of Fund-raising Professionals 42nd International Conference on Fund Raising. The Association of Fund-raising Professionals (AFP) annually honors individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding commitment and leadership in philanthropy and volunteerism. This year, approximately 900 professional fund-raisers from across the globe were in attendance. Members of the 2005 IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon Overall Committee who accepted the award were also honored at the President's Reception before the banquet, where they had the opportunity to meet with members of the AFP board and some of the nation's top fund-raising professionals. "This was a huge honor and award, particularly considering that it was the inaugural Youth in Philanthropy Award presentation," said Stuart Spisak, special assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs, chairman of the Four Diamonds Fund and interim THON adviser. THON raised more than $4.1 million for children with cancer in 2005 and remains one of the largest student-run philanthropies in the world. For more information on THON, visit http://www.thon.org

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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