HARRISBURG, Pa. — Penn State’s THON and Four Diamonds have far-reaching impacts that touch thousands of people across the state every year. As THON weekend draws near, a group of THON and Four Diamonds representatives visited the Pennsylvania State Capitol to present the mission and significance of THON to members of the General Assembly.
The group consisting of Keegan Sobczak, THON 2025 executive director; Suzanne Graney, Four Diamonds executive director; Rick Jordan, Four Diamonds family representative; and Dr. Giselle Saulnier Sholler, chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine. The array of experiences from presenters gave a holistic look at how THON and Four Diamonds make a difference in the lives of countless students, children, families and professionals across the commonwealth.
"THON is home. It is the outpouring of support, joy and hope for Four Diamonds children battling childhood cancer and their families, and for the day we can dance in celebration of a cure,” Sobczak said. “It’s important for elected officials to hear about THON because it shows how active college-aged students can be for a cause they care about. We are incredibly passionate, motivated and inspired to create change and positivity in the world around us.”
Started in 1977, THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, engaging more than 16,000 Penn State students each year to plan and execute the annual fundraising effort that culminates in a 46-hour standing dance marathon at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center every February.
Sobczak told legislators about his THON journey, starting with a virtual role during THON 2022 to now overseeing all student volunteers who work year-round to execute the annual event.
Last year, THON raised a record $16.9 million, and since inception, more than $236 million for Four Diamonds, its sole beneficiary, which provides critical financial assistance for families of children battling cancer, as well as support for pediatric cancer research.
Graney relayed how Four Diamonds uses the funds raised through THON to support eligible Four Diamonds families.
“Every year we are so grateful for the opportunity to inspire, empower and activate tens of thousands of students to participate in Mini-THONs and to join THON in their work to help Four Diamonds conquer childhood cancer,” Graney said. “Through their combined millions of hours of volunteer service, these young constituents help us to ensure every Four Diamonds child receives the care they need at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital without ever seeing a bill. And the dollars these students raise make it possible for us to fund groundbreaking research to ultimately save more kids’ lives.”
Four Diamonds supports an average of 500 families every year through THON’s fundraising efforts. Jordan, who lost his daughter Lily Jordan to pediatric cancer in 2020, spoke to the direct support Four Diamonds families receive and the experience of THON weekend.
“I believe the only way legislators and state officials can begin to understand the impact THON and Four Diamonds have on families that must deal with pediatric cancer is to hear the actual account from a Four Diamonds Family,” Jordan said. “I share Lily’s story because it’s part of my journey and my personal healing; I also share it to keep her memory alive. Lily and our family could not have navigated any of this dark and difficult journey without Four Diamonds and THON.”
Sholler highlighted how THON’s fundraising helps fuel the acceleration of innovative research to find new treatment options and ultimately cures for pediatric cancer.
“I was proud to have the opportunity to speak with our legislators and highlight the vital work of caring for children with cancer at Penn State Health and the College of Medicine,” said Sholler. “The combination of clinical care, supportive services and groundbreaking research fosters hope — made possible by the dedication of THON students who raise the critical funding needed to advance our work to improve outcomes.”
THON 2025 — “A Home For Hope” — will take place Feb. 21-23 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Learn more about THON at thon.org, and be sure to follow THON on Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok. Learn more about Four Diamonds at fourdiamonds.org.