Canning Weekends? Check.
THON 5K? Check.
One Hundred Days Till THON? Check.
So, what’s next?
“There are plenty of ways for alumni to continue to stay involved in the THON community and to spread their passion for THON,” said Rick Melli, alumni engagement director for THON 2017.
Melli and the directors of the Alumni Association’s Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG) noted several planned events benefiting THON, as listed below. It’s also never too late to start something new.
This year, Melli explained, THON is planning on using alternative forms of fundraising — bake sales and restaurant fundraisers, for example — in volunteers’ hometowns to spread THON’s mission in places the organization normally wouldn’t be able to reach. All alumni are encouraged to organize alternative fundraisers for THON. You can learn more here.
Alumni interested in THON are also encouraged to take part in Inspire 5 and the Alumni Challenge, Melli added. Inspire 5 challenges volunteers to motivate five new people to take part in the fight against childhood cancer with THON. With the Alumni Challenge, you have the opportunity to share your THON story and experiences with the entire Penn State community. Information on both can be found at thon.org.
Fundraisers organized by Alumni Association chapters and interest groups for 2017 include:
Dance For A Cure
7 p.m. Jan. 21, 2017
Mixx Nightclub and Sports Bar in Allentown, Pennsylvania
This event proves that dancing — good or bad — saves lives. Planned and hosted by the Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society, the event encourages participants to learn a new dance every hour. From country line to hip-hop dancing, the event is sure to be a blast for all. Information and registration can be found here.
The Liberty Ball: A Knight For the Kids
7 p.m. Feb. 25, 2017
Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For a night of food, drink, and dancing that will culminate with a silent auction, The Liberty Ball, created by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Alumni Association, is set for another year of fun and inspiration. Event information and registration can be found here.
The NYC Hope Gala
7 p.m. March 11, 2017
Gotham Hall in New York, New York
Founded by the Alumni Association’s New York City Chapter with support from the Northern New Jersey Chapter, the Hope Gala has raised more than $600,000 benefiting THON since its inception in 2008. Event information and registration can be found here, or via email at contact@nychopegala.com.
THON doesn’t stop after graduation, and neither do its volunteers. For more information on ways to get involved, visit thon.org or dmaig.org.