HERSHEY, Pa. — Four Diamonds Mini-THON — modeled after the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON — revealed a record $7.2 million raised in one year to fight childhood cancer at the annual Mini-THON Leadership Summit on Aug. 9. More than 1,000 student leaders, teachers and advisers involved in Mini-THON events across Pennsylvania and several other states attended the summit, which is designed to help students learn, network and share ideas about planning their own Mini-THONs and develop their leadership skills.
Speakers at the summit included Four Diamonds co-founder Charles Millard and a Four Diamonds family. After opening remarks, students and advisers cheered and celebrated as the 2018-19 fundraising total was revealed. Mini-THONs are multihour, interactive events modeled after THON, which is held by Penn State students each year at University Park. The money raised benefits Four Diamonds, which assists families with children being treated for cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital. Money supports the families through financial support, as well as groundbreaking research for new treatments and cures for all childhood cancers.
Attendees of the summit represented the 90,000 students who participated in Mini-THONs at more than 265 schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia during the 2018-19 school year.