Penn State York’s THON Committee invites the community to celebrate fall during the Fall Fest from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the campus. Attendees are encouraged to wear a costume. The event is $5 for each child accompanied by an adult and takes place in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building. Proceeds go to the campus THON committee's effort to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. The Four Diamonds Fund helps children with cancer and their families.
The $5 admission price for children includes a pumpkin to paint, a slice of pizza, a drink and participation in other activities. Pizza will also be available for adults to purchase.
This is just one of many events sponsored by the Penn State York THON Committee leading up to the 42nd annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), the 46-hour dance marathon, set for Feb. 20 to 22, at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. The theme for THON 2015 is “Empower the Dreamers!” THON 2014 raised more than $13.3 million last year and broke its own record of more than $12.3 million, bringing the total raised in the history of the event to more than $114 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at The Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.THON, a year-round fundraising event, is the largest single donor to the Four Diamonds Fund. The year culminates in a no sitting, no sleeping, two-day dance marathon. The mission of THON is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers and staff of the Four Diamonds Fund.
During THON weekend, more than 700 dancers and thousands of supporters come together at University Park in the hopes of one day finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Whether standing for 46 hours as a dancer, entertaining the crowd, taking care of the facility or even sitting in the stands, every person at THON plays a significant role in creating a community unified in support, compassion and understanding. This unity inspires students to fundraise throughout the year and lets families of the Four Diamonds Fund know that they have the care and support they need. This collective effort, involving more than 15,000 students, has become one of Penn State's greatest and most unifying traditions.
Anyone interested in supporting the dancers from Penn State York can donate online at http://giveto.psu.edu/THON-York, by clicking “Donate Now.” Donations made to the York THON group will be credited to the campus and then added to the final total at University Park. Checks in support of THON should be made payable to: Penn State Dance Marathon or THON, and sent to Penn State York, 1031 Edgecomb Ave., York, PA 17403. Please note "York, Org. 170" in the memo line of the check.