Message from the Overall Chair

Hello! My name is Caitlin Zankowski and I’m the Overall Chairperson for the 2010 Penn State Dance Marathon! This year, I’m honored to be leading a philanthropy that is making strides in the fight against pediatric cancer.

In 1973, the first Dance Marathon took place in the HUB Student Union ballroom. That year, 36 couples danced and raised $2,000. During this marathon, the students promised no sitting or sleeping in an effort to show their support For The Kids; something that is still very much alive in THON today.

THON is now a part of Penn State culture, enduring building changes, supporting families, and empowering students for more than thirty years. We’ve come a long way from 36 couples and $2,000. To date, each year THON has 15,000 volunteers, 700 dancers and has raised more than $61 million for the fight against pediatric cancer.

THON’s beneficiary is the Four Diamonds Fund, which provides families with the ability to offset the cost of cancer treatment that insurance won’t cover. THON’s support has also contributed to the Four Diamond Fund’s ability to hire world-class medical specialists: oncologists, child life specialists and a clinical nutritionist. In addition to supporting the families that experience this burden, the Four Diamonds Fund has established numerous research endowments focusing on one goal: curing cancer. All of this has been made possible because of the support from THON.

Since 1977, THON has assisted more than 2,000 families and during this time, no family has been turned away from the Four Diamonds Fund.

With thousands of student volunteers, THON brings together a diverse Penn State community in the fight against pediatric cancer. Across the commonwealth, and the country, we are empowering students that believe Joe Paterno when he said, “when we say We Are…Penn State, this [THON] is what we’re talking about.”

With the support of the students, the families and the University, THON continues to succeed each year in providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers and staff of the Four Diamonds Fund.

Thank you. Thank you for Always Believing that students are Embracing Dreams and Sharing Tomorrow so that Together, We’ll Prevail against pediatric cancer. Each THON Weekend, we bring together Many Hearts to One Home because every February, Hope Finds A Way. For their futures, Dream Forward.

For The Kids,

 Caitlin Zankowski

 THON 2010 Overall Chairperson

 Penn State Dance Marathon