Shenango students and Alumni Society members gather together before last year's Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser for THON.
SHARON, Pa. — Penn State Shenango will host its fifth annual THON spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, 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 meatball, salad, bread, cake and beverages. Takeout meals will also be offered. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $8 or at the door for $10. Children under age 5 are free, and senior citizens age 65 and older are $5 anytime. To purchase tickets in advance, stop in the Penn State Shenango Students Affairs Office in Room 103 of Sharon Hall, 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.
“I’ve been an active member of THON since my sophomore year in 2015, and witnessing the incredible efforts to raise funds 'For the Kids' has really opened my eyes,” said Allison Owens, Shenango’s THON chair. “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 more than helping kids with cancer. It is raising money to find a cure and helping these kids’ families so that they never have to see a medical bill. This year THON weekend is Feb. 17-19."
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon 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 $137 million for the Four Diamonds Fund. This effort engages more than 15,000 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 reached a record-breaking goal of over $2,000,” said Owens. “As the president of the Shenango THON committee, I expect to exceed that amount.”
Those who are unable to attend the spaghetti dinner but would like to make a contribution to THON can donate online at www.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.
