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.

In honor of Courtney’s memory and her dedication to THON, the Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Fund has been established to raise money and awareness of safe fundraising practices for students raising money for THON. Supporters of the Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Fund are attempting to provide support for students who want to can safely for THON. Included in suggestions for improving canning practices is a proposal to fund buses that would take groups of students to the major metropolitan areas, cutting down on risk associated with students spending 8-10 hours driving to canning destinations 3-4 times per year.

Representatives from the Long Island, New York City and Northern NJ chapters of the Penn State Alumni Association and the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG) will be working with Courtney’s friends and family to help spread the word about the Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Fund.

The memorial tree planting ceremony and plaque dedication are open to the public and the Penn State community is encouraged to attend.

About the Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Fund: The Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Fund was started in honor of PSU Freshman Courtney O’Bryan who lost her life in a canning accident while raising money for THON. Donations to the Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Fund will assist in efforts to make canning safer FOR all THE KIDS. Donations can be made on line at Courtney O'Bryan Memorial Fund

Contact Information:
Henry Montag
Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Fund
Hmontag1@aol.com
516-695-4662