IST students support THON family
by Stephanie Koons
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON, is a hallowed tradition at University Park. Each year, more than 15,000 students across the university raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. Their efforts culminate with a two-day dance marathon, which will be held Feb. 17-19 at the Bryce Jordan Center. A team of students at the College of IST is preparing for the final leg of its fundraising campaign for THON 2012.
According to THON’s website, the organization is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, having raised more than $78 million since 1977 for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Last year, IST students formed their own team, IST THON, and raised $21,000. This year, said Colleen Cwenar, executive chairperson of IST THON, the team hopes to raise at least $30,000.
“I just think pediatric cancer is so sad,” she said. “I just want to do everything I can to help the families.”
Cwenar, a senior who is majoring in Security and Risk Analysis with a minor in psychology, said that she has been involved with THON since she was a freshman. IST THON was started by Alumnus Russell Beck. This year’s team has nearly 40 active members. In addition to Cwenar, the Executive Board is comprised of Vice-Executive Chairperson Jamie Gordon, Alumni-Relations Chairperson Chase Miller, Family-Relations Chairperson Caroline McKenna, Social Chairperson Jack Henry Lucas, and Technology Chairperson Krista Krebs.
Approximately 700 students dance at THON, with no sitting or sleeping permitted during the 46-hour dance. Each team is allotted a certain number of dancers, and this year, Cwenar and McKenna will represent IST THON.
To strengthen the emotional connection to THON, the team is participating in the Adopt-A-Family Program, which matches Penn State organizations with a family that includes a child who is battling cancer. The family and members of the organization spend time together before, during, and after THON weekend. In October, IST THON was notified that it was paired with the Murphy family, of Mechanicsburg. David Murphy, 10, was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2010. His family members include his father, Ed; his mother, Donna; and his eight-year-old brother, Sean.
“We couldn’t ask to be paired with a better family,” Cwenar said.
On Nov. 13, after the THON Family Carnival, the Murphy family met IST THON for a pizza party and games in the IST Building. Team members had previously sent David a Halloween “care package,” Cwenar said, and a scrapbook with pictures of IST THON members. The team will accompany the family to a Penn State basketball game, she said, and is also planning a trip to Hershey Medical Center with the family.
“It just provides an extra level of motivation to our members to be paired with a family,” Cwenar said.
In keeping with THON tradition, canning is an essential part of the fundraising process. During each of the four canning trips that are planned for the year, team members volunteer to spend hours outside to raise money at various locations. Between canning trips held in West Chester and Northern Virginia this fall, the group raised nearly $10,000. Additional canning weekends are scheduled for Jan. 20-22 in Pittsburgh, and Feb. 10-12 at a location to be determined.
In addition to the canning trips, IST THON has planned a variety of fundraising activities. The group raised several hundred dollars this fall through IST alumni tailgating games, a kickball tournament, a chili cook-off, and “Pie Your Professor” event in which participants were able to throw pies at their favorite IST faculty and staff members. The “Pie Your Professor” event was sponsored by Corporate Associate Partner Ernst & Young.
Other upcoming fundraisers include a Date Auction on Jan. 18 in Reese’s Café, during which eight to ten IST undergraduate students will be auctioned off for dates to raise money for THON. IST THON members are also planning a video game tournament that will be held at the end of January or early February, Cwenar said, as well as a pizza sale. Team members are also placing donation boxes at businesses in their hometowns, she added, and are soliciting donations by mailing “THONvelopes” to family members, friends, neighbors, and alumni.
Amid all of the excitement surrounding THON, Cwenar said, the IST THON members haven’t lost sight of its true purpose of helping families who are dealing with pediatric cancer.
“I think that’s one of the most rewarding things, seeing everyone in the IST family come together for this great cause,” she said.
To learn more about THON or to make a donation, visit www.thon.org. For more information about IST THON, visit http://thon.ist.psu.edu/.
