University Park, PA – A tree planting ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 10:30AM outside of Shulze Hall on the University Park campus of Penn State University in honor of Courtney O’Bryan, Penn State freshman and member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority, who lost her life on a canning trip for THON last winter.

The memorial tree planting and plaque dedication will be held in conjunction with Sigma Delta Tau’s annual Parents Weekend and will precede a brunch at Toftrees Resort and Conference Center, which starts at 11:30 AM. In attendance will be members of Penn State’s Sigma Delta Tau chapter and their parents, including Courtney’s parents, Lisa and Nick Brigandi and Bill and Diane O’Bryan. A representative from Sigma Delta Tau national offices and representatives from Penn State”s Office of Student Affairs will be on hand for the dedication. Representatives from several PSU Alumni Association chapters have been invited to participate.

Newly appointed 2013 THON Overall Chair, Will Martin, and Elaine Tanella, 2012 THON Overall Chair will speak at the ceremony and plan to announce changes in THON canning policies that will be implemented this year.

Courtney O’Bryan, of Huntingdon NY, and several members of Sigma Delta Tau and Kappa Delta Rho fraternity were injured on a THON canning trip to the Buffalo area when their car hit ice and flipped over. THON is a student run philanthropy that raises money for The Four Diamonds Fund, an organization that supports pediatric cancer patients and their families. This year’s THON total was over $10.8 million dollars.

Whether your still revved up from a record-breaking THON or your down in the dumps because its all over, either way we've got a great way for you to stay involved and help a special little girl this Spring! Emily Whitehead is a 6 year old fighting leukemia and requiring a bone marrow transplant this March, which will require weeks of an inpatient hospital stay. Emma's Books is a program that is trying to send 1 book a day to Emily in hopes of brightening her spirits!

So get involved! Pick up a children's book to send to Emily and help make her stay at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center just little bit brighter! When asked what she likes to read Emily says, "EVERYTHING!" She is currently at a level 3 reading level, but feel free to send higher level books which her Aunts plan to read out loud to her. For an even more special touch leave a personalized note on the inside cover and encourage this little girl to continue fighting and dancing until we have a cure!

For more information: bhay101@gmail.com
Books can be sent to: Emily Whitehead c/o Brian Sykes, 92 University Manor East, Hershey PA 17033