Hello THON Alumni!
We remember this feeling well. As undergraduates, we were trying to ride the emotional high of THON for as long as we could. Through the weeks before Spring Break, everything had an air of philanthropy, giving, and all that we could accomplish when we came together for the kids. Now as alumni, we carry the THON feelings on highways and to airports; we bring stories back to our homes and offices. And we're still looking for more ways to help, to keep spreading the word, and to keep the THON spirit going! The DMAIG event calendar is a full year of events and opportunities to stay hard at work in our search for a cure. With some great spring events coming up, we'll make it easy to keep the spirit going. And, as we look back on the past year, we'll feature the four highest-grossing events here too! Do you have an idea for your own event, or are you looking for more information about these or others? Stay in touch by emailing Emily at regionalevents@dmaig.org or Daniel at editor@dmaig.org.
Announcing THON 2009 Overall Chairperson...Mike Hacke
Before we cover how successful THON 2008 events were this year, the DMAIG would like to congratulate Mike Hacke on becoming the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon 2009 Overall Chairperson. We wish him the best of luck as he begins the process to full the remaining open positions of the 2009 Overall Committee. We are all very excited to see what he and the rest of the undergraduates will have for everyone during this next year!
Upcoming Events
Penn State Night at the Ballpark
Philadelphia, PA
Friday, April 11th at 7:05 pm
Citizens Bank Park
Join us for an evening at Citizens Bank ballpark where past, present, and future Penn Staters cheer on the Phillies with proceeds of ticket sales benefiting Penn State's Dance Marathon! Help us to reach our goal of selling 500 tickets. Over 420 tickets have already been sold!
Purchase tickets now by visiting www.phillies.com/pennstate. The promotion code is THON. Seating with fellow Penn State supporters will be located on the Terrace Deck in Sections 417-419 for $20 each. There will be a special pre-game performance by the Alumni Blue Band!
Northern New Jersey Chapter
Tom Bradley Event
Belleville, NJ
Thursday, April 24th from 6:30 to 11:00 Nanina's In the Park Banquet Hall
On Thursday April 24th, the Northern New Jersey Chapter is hosting Penn State Defensive Coordinator, Tom Bradley, at Nanina's In the Park Banquet Hall in Belleville, NJ from 6:30-11pm. Admission is $75 per person and you will receive a full dinner and cocktail hour (cash bar), and an opportunity to meet Tom Bradley face to face. Coach Bradley will be appearing to discuss his 30 years on the PSU football staff. Also on hand will be acclaimed author Jordan Hymen, conducting a book signing for his book "Playing for JoePa." For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.psunj.org or email Mike Cocco at mikecocco1@gmail.com. This is a joint fundraiser for THON and the Chapter's scholarship program. Space is limited: Reserve your spot early before the event is sold out!
Top Alumni Events!
The DMAIG would like to thank all Chapters, event chairs, volunteers, and attendees that helped to support THON 2008. Your efforts helped the students raise $6,615,318.04 for the kids! Alumni ARE making a difference. This year, alumni events raised nearly $100,000 for THON! We want to extend a special THANK YOU to the top four alumni fundraisers of THON 2008, which each raised over $10,000!
The alumni event totals and top events only include events registered with DMAIG and THON. If you organized or attended an event this year that was not featured in a DMAIG email or are interested in planning an event for THON 2009, please contact Emily Greenberg at regionalevents@dmaig.org.*
1. $26,180 Sixth Annual Onward Upward Basketball Challenge
The Onward Upward Basketball Challenge, held February 9th at Council Rock High School, raised over $26,180 for THON. This brings the six-year total to greater than $74,000! A team of Penn State alumni captained by Joe Hoelscher ('03) raised over $5,000 in winning the money raising portion of the event. Another team of Penn State alumni, captained by Matt Muldoon ('01), won the tournament in dominating fashion. Adena Comrey, a Four Diamonds family member, gave an emotional speech to the audience at the event to help them better understand the cause they had all contributed to.
The planning committee for the event is already thinking about how they can continue to grow the event next year; the seventh annual OUBC promises to be the biggest and best yet. The Onward UpwardBasketball Challenge was founded in January of 2003, by Penn State Alumni, Tim Chiodo, Adam Gentzel, Randy Whiteside, and Joe Worley. These gentlemen started the event as a means to stay connected with THON, and the University, all while continuing to contribute to a great cause they supported during their collegiate days. In 2005, the Onward Upward Planning Committee expanded to include the services of John Mazzolla, Jess Worley, KC Gentzel, and Adam Mills.
Updates, pictures, and news coverage are available at http://www.onwardupward.com
2. $20,000 War on the Shore III
War on the Shore III took place at the Windrift in Avalon on August 4th and was as successful as ever! With over 250 PSU alumni taking over therooftop deck, we were able to raise over $20,000 for the kids! Just as the crowd grew, so did this year's raffle. Some of the prizes were football tickets (to this year's games against Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Florida International), great Penn State memorabilia, tickets and memorabilia from the Phillies, Eagles, Mets, and Yankees, as well as gift certificates to area restaurants and stores and much more. We are always looking towards next year, hoping to continue to make it bigger and better. If you would like to help out for next year, please contact Patrick McNichol at pat.mcnichol@gmail.com and visit the War on the Shore website,
where pictures are uploaded from this year's event. Thanks to this year's supporters for your generous help!
3. $16,322 Third Annual Liberty Ball 2008, a Knight For the Kids
The third annual Liberty Ball 2008, a Knight for the Kids was a huge success this year! The Philadelphia Chapter and Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group are pleased to announce that the event raised $16,322.97 for the THON! This total beats both of the previous years' totals combined!
The event was held on February 2nd at the Down Town Club with over 160 guests in attendance. The evening kicked off with the silent auction and raffle during the cocktail hour. Guests then moved to the ballroom for dinner, dancing, and welcoming remarks from Roger Williams, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association, and Ian Rosenberger ('03), the master of ceremony for the evening. The crowd also heard from Four Diamonds father, Mark Hochberger and Ted Dwyer, Chairman of the Four Diamonds Board.
Thank you to all of our guests, corporate sponsors, donors, and to the committee that made this event such a spectacular success! Please visit www.libertyball.org to learn more and get involved!
4. $10,000 Diamonds Over Georgia
In Atlanta, Diamonds Over Georgia raised over $10,000 for THON 2008 between the event, live auction, and corporate sponsorship from Brill Financial (Mass Mutual). Diamonds Over Georgia was held at the 1420 Room on February 1st. Over 110 people came out and enjoyed themselves, dancing the night away. Our large auction items were a donated Yuengling neon light from Yuengling and a custom framed Joe Paterno limited edition signed print for $2500. In addition, we announced the intent to donate 20 percent of the proceeds in 2009 to University of Georgia's Dance Marathon sponsoring children's Healthcare of Atlanta with the other 80 percent still slated for THON. All in all, it was a huge success!
Please visit www.diamondsovergeorgia.org to learn more and get involved!
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DMAIG promises to promote a continuing relationship between students and alumni who care about THON by providing opportunities for alumni to give time, money and resources to aid in the conquering of childhood cancer.
Dan Halperin
editor@dmaig.org
Bill O'Tormey
secretary@dmaig.org
