Below is a list of our yearlong programs offered to the Four Diamonds Families. Although optional, the following programs are excellent and we encourage your family to participate in them. Please click on each program to learn more and register. We ask that families complete the registration for each program by the due date provided in the description.
Adopt a Family
The Adopt-A-Family (AAF) Program is one of the best ways for your family to get to know the Penn State organizations who are working For The Kids to fight childhood cancer! The Family Relations AAF team matches your family with a Penn State student organization for the year. This enables you and your family to get to know a group of students who dedicate themselves to THON, and it allows the students to get to know an amazing Four Diamonds family.
You and your organization will spend time together before, during, and after THON weekend. This includes pre-THON events and other fun activities the student organization plans. Students are aware of your busy schedules though and are willing to spend time with you in any way you see fit! In addition, the bonds you make with a student organization motivates them to go out and raise money and awareness for The Four Diamonds Fund. The student organizations you get to know are the same organizations that tirelessly fundraise on canning weekends, and your friendships and support truly inspires them!
It is our recommendation that every family is paired because it truly is one of the most rewarding experiences that THON has to offer!! If your THON Registration form is completed before October 3rd, 2011, the AAF Team will be able to match you and your family with a student organization before the THON Family Carnival and you can begin building a strong relationship with your student organization! If you have been paired with an organization in the past or have one that you know you would like to be paired with, please make that distinction on your THON Registration form. Please contact Kaylee Tully, THON 2012 Overall Family Relations Chairperson, at family.relations@thon.org with any questions.
Penn Pal Program
Project Penn Pals is a great way for your family to get to know a THON volunteer! The Family Relations committee matches your child/children with a THON committee or organization and you can correspond with them throughout the year! Penn State students love this program because it allows them to get to know an individual Four Diamonds family personally!
This program is also popular with kids because they get to write letters to the "big" kids at Penn State! We’re hoping to keep building the program by arranging for you to meet your Penn Pal at the Family Carnival!
If you would like to participate, please sign-up here by October 3rd, 2011. Once your child/children are paired, they will be contacted by their Penn Pal!
THON Feature Family Program
The families of THON have and always will lie at the heart of this organization. You provide inspiration to our volunteers daily with your courage, honesty, wisdom, and strength and the THON 2012 Feature Family Program is designed to promote that! The Family Relations Committee gathers information about your family and creates a family profile to help our volunteers get to know you a little better. We would like to use your family profile in the following ways:
- Family Feature posters displayed in The Bryce Jordan Center during THON Weekend
- Dancer Shout-Outs recorded at Harvest Day and the Family Carnival and shown during THON Weekend
- Family Web pages featured here!
If you would like to participate in this program, please open this document and fill it out. Then, either email or mail it to Kaylee Tully, THON 2012 Overall Family Relations Chairperson, by using one of the following addresses:
- Penn State Dance Marathon
Attn: Kaylee Tully, Overall Family Relations Chairperson
210 HUB
University Park, PA 16802
OR
Please submit this form by October 20th, 2011. Also, please be sure to forward copies of photos or digital photos, as original photos will not be returned.
Families Helping Families
Each year, new Four Diamonds families join the THON family and they may be a little overwhelmed with all of the THON information and events occurring throughout the year and during THON weekend. The Family Relations committee can provide a lot of help, but many times what they really need is a veteran THON family who can help them sort through the information and help them understand THON a little more. That’s where you come in! We’re looking for families willing to lend the new THON families a hand. In these “adoptions” we’re asking veteran families to provide new families with helpful THON weekend pointers, meet a friendly face, and help them maneuver through their THON a little easier. If interested, please contact Kaylee Tully, THON 2012 Overall Family Relations Chairperson, at family.relations@thon.org.
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