Dear Friends, Colleagues & Clients,
The students at Penn State University hold the world’s largest student-run philanthropy (THON) to raise money for the ongoing fight against childhood cancer. THON is held every February inside Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center – take a moment to search for pictures of past THON events and one can’t help but well-up a bit. THON started in 1973 as a fraternity dance marathon fund raiser and has since grown to over 16,500 Penn State student volunteers raising over $157 million dollars since its inception. Student organizations also “adopt” families impacted by pediatric cancer and provide emotional, spiritual and financial support in addition to overall fundraising efforts. THON raised over $10M the last two years, $9.8M in 2016 and over $13M per year in 2014 and 2015. Fundraising declined in 2016 due to a horrible and unfortunate car accident that took the life of a Penn State freshman returning from a “canning” trip. Canning was a Thon fund-raising tradition where thousands of student volunteers fan-out across the NE United States and collect donations at intersections and places of business. Students stayed at their parent’s homes hosting upwards of 20+ Penn State students over canning weekends – Maria and I were fortunate enough to host one of the final “canning” trips for my oldest son’s fraternity.
Because canning trips were cancelled, fundraising has dropped significantly – something had to be done. As an alumni and parent of two Penn State students, I am reaching out to my friends, colleagues and clients to ask for either a personal or corporate donation using the below link. My oldest son Alec, a junior at Penn State, is heavily involved with THON through his fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma. Unfortunately, Penn State’s Greek system does not get enough recognition for its charitable and volunteerism including both starting THON and continuing to be the core of such a worthy cause. We are hoping to return to year-over-year record-setting fund raising and I am asking for your assistance. Please feel no obligation to make a donation and I have no idea who does, or does not, make a donation unless you make it public (which is also fine). Please join me and support the Penn State student volunteers in this meaningful and worthwhile cause.
Thank you for your friendship, business and support!
Gordon