Support Shenango's THON spaghetti dinner to help kids with cancer

A group of people stand and kneel for a picture in the campus' auditorium before the 2016 Spaghetti Dinner

Students and Shenango Alumni Society members gather before the 2016 THON spaghetti dinner fundraiser.

Credit: Penn State

SHARON, Pa. — Penn State Shenango will hold its sixth annual THON spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, in the campus auditorium. The event is sponsored by Penn State Shenango Benefiting THON and various local restaurants. All proceeds will support kids with cancer.

Dinner will include spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, cake and beverages. Takeout meals also will be offered. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $8 or at the door for $10. Children ages 4-12 and seniors 60 and older can purchase their tickets early for $6 or $8 at the door. Children 3 and under are free. For advanced ticket sales, stop in the Penn State Shenango Student Affairs office in Sharon Hall Room 103, located on Penn Avenue in downtown Sharon. In addition to dinner, a basket raffle will be available. Each purchased dinner ticket will include one free basket ticket. Other basket raffle tickets may be purchased at the event.

“THON isn’t just about helping kids with cancer. It’s about giving the kids and their families hope,” said Allison Owens, Shenango’s THON chair. “I witnessed THON weekend for the first time last year, and it was an experience I will never forget. This year THON weekend is Feb. 16-18. Each year, we actively reach out to the community to spread awareness of what THON is all about, and we can’t thank those businesses and individuals enough for helping us. THON is raising money to find a cure and helping these kids’ families so that they never have to see a medical bill.”

THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, where students passionately raise money to create awareness opportunities, fund research, and assist families struggling with the fight against cancer. Since 1977, when THON was first established, Penn State students have raised more than $147 million for Four Diamonds. This effort engages more than 16,500 students across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State Shenango students are especially motivated to make a difference.

“At last year’s spaghetti dinner, we raised $1,182, and the members of THON hope to raise more this year,” continued Owens. “Since 2005, the Shenango THON committee has raised over $72,000 for Four Diamonds.”

If you are unable to make the event, but would like to make a contribution to pediatric cancer, you may donate online at https://thon.org/. Please use Penn State Shenango’s code #167.

For more information, contact the Penn State Shenango Student Affairs office at 724-983-2836.