Mar. 14, 2016
HARRISBURG –The House of Representatives today unanimously passed Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin)’s House resolution congratulating Pennsylvania State University students for raising more than $9.7 million this year to help fight pediatric cancer.
“THON is about providing hope, love and support for children and their families as they face the toughest battles of their lives,” Benninghoff said. “I continue to be amazed by the efforts of our young people, and could not be prouder.”
THON is the commonly referred to name for The Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. It is sustained by more than 15,000 volunteers who collect money and dance for 46 consecutive hours at the Bryce Jordan Center to raise awareness of the disease.
The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, the sole beneficiary of THON’s fundraising, offsets the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover, as well as expenses that may affect the welfare of the child, supports the medical team that cares for the children, and funds pediatric cancer research through start-up grants.
“The Penn State community once again stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park for the young people and families impacted by childhood cancer,” Benninghoff said. “It amazes me every year that students would work so hard and dance so tirelessly for people they, for the most part, don’t even know. What a wonderful example of goodness and true kindness.”
Since 1977, THON has raised more than $127 million.
Representative Kerry Benninghoff
171st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Morgan Wagner
717.260.6281
mwagner@pahousegop.com
KerryBenninghoff.com /
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