READING, Pa. — The Berks County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association will present a check to the Berks Benefitting THON student organization at their dancer send-off at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, in the Perkins Student Center Lion’s Den, at Penn State Berks.
The donation comes from student participation in various alumni events held throughout the year including football tailgates, and the Reading Royals Night, sponsored by the Berks County Chapter of the PSAA and the Reading Royals on Saturday, Jan. 20. Five dollars from every ticket sold through the event website was donated to Berks Benefitting THON, and the Royals players all wore special Penn State Ice-themed jerseys that were autographed and auctioned off after the game.
In the eight-year history of the Chapter’s Reading Royals Night, alumni have donated over $50,000 to Berks Benefitting THON. In 2017, the grand total raised by THON overall was $10,045,478.44. Penn State Berks raised $62,531.35 in support of THON, ranking third among all Penn State campuses for fundraising events and activities throughout the year.
John Ginder, Berks chapter president, stated, “Our chapter has been fortunate to work with an outstanding partner organization like the Reading Royals, the Berks Benefitting THON student club at Penn State Berks, and our committee of dedicated volunteers who put in significant time to coordinate this event. Together, we’re committed to raising awareness and funding to support THON, an organization led by Penn State students dedicated to the pursuit of a cure for pediatric cancer.”
From Friday, Feb. 16, to Sunday, Feb. 18, Penn State students from every campus will gather at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University Park, for THON, the 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon to benefit Four Diamonds, which supports families battling pediatric cancer.
This year’s Berks student dancers include seniors Morgan Omlor and Jason Hernandez, and juniors Tyler Lehman, Megan Klan and Jasleen Bhogal.
For more information or to make a donation, visit thon.donordrive.com. Go to "General Organizations" and click DONATE, then select “Penn State Berks Benefitting THON” to credit Penn State Berks with your donation.
About THON:
In 1977, the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, known as THON, established its relationship with the Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Four Diamonds directly assists the families at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, while funding research in pursuit of a cure. To date, THON has contributed more than $136 million to support children and their families fighting pediatric cancer. Every year, more than 16,000 student volunteers devote their time and effort to raise money through fundraising events. The hard work of each and every volunteer culminates every February during THON weekend for a 46-hour dance marathon celebration in the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park.
Berks Benefitting THON at Penn State Berks works collaboratively with THON at Penn State University Park to raise funds and spread awareness of pediatric cancer. The student organization holds fundraisers throughout the year, including a 5K run/walk, Vera Bradley and Sports Bingo event, the Inaugural Inspire the Night Dinner and a Polar Plunge held in January, just to name a few.
