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December 2021 Alumni Newsletter
by Ainsley Adams

Uniting the Community in the Spirit of Commemoration

We are hoping that you would consider sharing your artifacts to be reunited with THON and sheltered in our Time Capsule until the 100th THON in 2072. If you are interested in your history being a part of THON’s future, please fill out the form below. Our best wishes to you and your families!

Toy Drive

Spread joy this holiday season with the Hershey Holiday Toy Drive!  We are collecting toys to bring to Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey to brighten their holiday season.  Each toy bought off the registry will end up directly in the hands of a Four Diamond child and their families. Looking to get involved and make the holidays merry and bright? Scroll through our registry, select your favorite gift, and have it shipped to the THON Office (227D HUB, University Park, PA 16802) by December 9th.

Every $20 in toys donated will give you a chance to win a THON™ Merch Basket! To enter the lottery, please fill out the form. Questions? Contact toy.drive@thon.org. Thank you!

Gingerbread House Kit Sale

Purchase your Gingerbread House Kit today, and all proceeds after cost will benefit THON! Kits are $59.99, and they can either be delivered to your home (for an additional cost) or picked up at various locations on University Park Campus! Organization crediting is available by entering the organization name and number in the special instructions at checkout! You can purchase your kit at the Penn State Bakery website!

THON Professional Sports

This year, we have THON Professional sports events. A portion of the ticket sales for all of them will benefit THON when purchased through the links below. The THON Devils game is December 19th at 7pm at the Prudential Center against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The THON Flyers game is December 21st at 7pm at the Wells Fargo Center against the Washington Capitals. Lastly, the THON Hershey Bears game is on January 2nd at the Giant Center.

Hope From Coast to Coast

The sixth annual Hope From Coast to Coast presented by the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group is live! Hope From Coast to Coast is a relay from Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey to the Bryce Jordan Center on the Thursday and Friday leading up to THON Weekend. Each participant will run three legs of 3-5 mile increments, carrying letters for the dancers from children at the hospital. The top 15 fundraising individuals will be selected for the team on January 23. In-person participants can join the “In-Person Participants” team to start fundraising today!

Supporters from around the world can participate in the Hope From Coast to Coast Virtual 46-day Challenge. As a community, Hope From Coast to Coast is setting a goal to collectively run or walk 3,000 miles in the 46 days leading up to THON Weekend (the average distance from coast to coast). Additionally, every participant is challenged to run or walk 135 miles in these 46 days, the same distance as the in-person relay from Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey to the Bryce Jordan Center. 

Send it Forward

With THON 2022 less than 100 days away, it is important we continue to spread awareness. By participating in the Send it Forward alumni campaign, we can effectively continue the fight against childhood. Click the link below visit to send it forward to friends and family by requesting pre-made mail solicitations. By reaching out to family and friends, YOU area able to inspire others to join the fight against childhood cancer.

Alumni Wars

Alumni Wars is a new campaign spanning the 6 weeks before THON Weekend. This campaign is focused on getting alumni involved in various aspects of THON™ that they may not have had previous exposure to. Alumni Wars will kick off on January 2nd and will continue until the week before THON Weekend. Alumni can participate in Alumni Wars by working in groups of alumni from their collegiate organization or by creating a team of alumni. Registration as a team is encouraged, but feel free to contribute throughout the campaign.

Hair Donation

Be Featured on the Hair Donation Portion of the THON Livestream! Considering donating your hair to help a child with cancer? If you donate your hair at a local salon or shave your head between now and February 16th, send photos or videos to hair.donation@thon.org to be featured in the hair donation portion of the THON Livestream! Please follow the guidelines, linked here, for sending in hair donations to Wigs for Kids. Email hair.donation@thon.org with any questions.

Supply the Fight

The Supply the Fight initiative is a collection drive for supplies that are crucial to THON’s success but are often hard to obtain. Students, alumni, and the THON community are encouraged to donate items found on the THON 2022 Supply the Fight Amazon registry (supplythefight.thon.org). You can purchase directly from the registry or bring the items to the THON Office (227D HUB). Donations are assigned a point value and can be credited to any alumni. For alumni, every 50 points obtained from donations is one drawing into a lottery to win vintage THON merchandise! Your donations help reduce internal costs to ensure that 96 cents of every dollar fundraised directly benefits the families and THON’s mission. For more information contact supplythefight@thon.org.

THON is Home 

February 18 -20, 2022, THON returns to the Bryce Jordan Center

Stay Connected!

The best way to stay updated with THON throughout the year is by following our social media accounts linked below. 

Join our Penn State Alumni Benefitting THON Facebook Group!
#AlumniFTK

THON’S Mission

THON is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. Our mission is to provide emotional and financial support, spread awareness, and ensure funding for critical research – all in pursuit of a cure.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the contents of this newsletter, please contact the Alumni Communications Coordinator, Greg McNicholas, at alumni.communications@thon.org.

Additionally, the THON Alumni Engagement Director, Will Vincent, is available to answer any questions or concerns. He can be reached at alumni.engagement@thon.org.