<![CDATA[DANCE MARATHON ALUMNI INTEREST GROUP - Blog]]>Mon, 04 May 2026 03:00:18 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Send our dancers mail!]]>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:55:08 GMThttps://www.dmaig.org/blog/send-our-dancers-mailWith THON Weekend quickly approaching, it is now time to send our DMAIG THON Dancers Dancer Mail! Anybody can write dancer mail to any THON Dancer. Dancer Mail Call occurs during the difficult hours of THON Weekend and helps keep dancers motivated.
Please address all packages and envelopes as follows:
Penn State Dance Marathon
Mail Call
ATTN: Name & Dancer Number
227D Hetzel Union Building
University Park, PA 16802
Here are our dancers' names and numbers:
  • 259A - Leila Rosala
  • 259B - Scout Pullano
  • 260A - Nina Royer
  • 260B - Gianna Giorgianni
  • 318A - Brandon Crockford
  • 318B - Alecia Heckman
All letters and packages must be postmarked by February 11. Please reach out to mail.call@thon.org with any questions. We THON in less than three weeks!
]]><![CDATA[DMAIG THON™ 2026 Dancers Announced]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:45:12 GMThttps://www.dmaig.org/blog/dmaig-thontm-2026-dancers-announcedSix Penn State Alumni will be representing Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group on the floor as dancers during THON Weekend 2026:
Leila Rosala '25 and Scout Pullano '25
Nina Royer '25 and Gianna Giorgianni '25
Brandon Crockford '24 and Alecia Heckman '25
Please give our dancers a warm welcome and encourage them as they prepare to take a stand for 46 hours against childhood cancer. ]]><![CDATA[Join the 46-day challenge!]]>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 19:17:22 GMThttps://www.dmaig.org/blog/join-the-46-day-challenge
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We are thrilled to share the 10th Annual Hope From Coast to Coast (HFC2C) 2026 campaign, presented by the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG). Established in 2016, HFC2C has been a beacon of support for Penn State THON™ (THON), empowering alumni to make an impact beyond their time as students. To date, our community has collectively run over 6,800 miles and generously donated over $140,000 to THON—all in the pursuit of finding a cure for childhood cancer.
What's New in 2026
This year, HFC2C expands beyond a single event to become a year-long initiative leading up to THON and beyond. Participants can engage through a variety of activities designed to foster community, fitness, and philanthropy.
How You Can Get Involved

  • Group Meet-up in State College: Join us in State College on THON weekend for a 4K For Four Diamonds Fun Run, where you can meet other alumni and supporters while engaging in a brisk walk/jog/run!
  • The 46-Day Challenge: Starting in January 2026, define your fitness goals and participate in our 46-Day Challenge. Share your progress on social media to inspire others and be part of a global movement.
  • Participate in a Race or Event: Fundraise for THON by creating a GiveButter page alongside your race or event registration. Whether you are lifting, cycling, running a marathon, or walking a local 5K, your efforts make a difference.
All of the proceeds from HFC2C support THON's mission. Donations for the event will be accepted until February 22nd, 2026, which is the conclusion of THON Weekend.
However you choose to get involved, we invite you to connect with our community on Facebook and Strava. These platforms offer a great way to stay engaged, share your progress, and support one another throughout the campaign.
For more information and to get involved, visit dmaig.org/hfc2c. Let's continue spreading hope, one step at a time!
]]><![CDATA[Ready to Start Your Alumni Fundraiser for THON™? Here’s Everything You Need to Know!]]>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:20:44 GMThttps://www.dmaig.org/blog/ready-to-start-your-alumni-fundraiser-for-thontm-heres-everything-you-need-to-knowPicture
Over the years, many of our alumni and Chapter/AIG members have reached out hoping to start or grow a fundraiser in support of THON. Whether you’re launching your first event or expanding an existing one, it can be difficult to know where to start!

Some of the most common questions we receive include:
  • Do we have resources available to help us get started?
  • Is there a list of fundraising ideas we can use to get started?
  • Are there identified resources and leaders that can assist us if we have questions?

The answer to these questions and others you may have are - yes!  We have developed a number of guides and resources over the past few years to help you plan your next fundraiser.

1. Alumni Group Fundraising Guide
This comprehensive guide covers everything from how to start a fundraiser to what support groups are available to help you get up and running. It also includes over 10 pages of fundraising ideas!

2. Creating a THON Fundraiser: A Step-by-Step Guide
This detailed resource walks you through every stage of the process, including:
  • Goal-setting
  • Selecting a fundraising platform
  • Recommended resources
  • Corporate sponsorships
  • Marketing ideas
  • ​Day-of-event logistics
  • Event follow-up
Whether you’re hosting a gala, a silent auction, or a social event, this guide provides a roadmap to make your efforts successful.

3. Social Media and Sponsor Outreach Planning
Your online presence can make a huge difference in the success of your event! We’ve developed a Social Media Planning Guide to help you engage supporters and ensure your campaigns are consistent with THON’s branding. 

4. Inspiration from Current Alumni Events
Looking for ideas from fellow alumni groups? Check out the list of current alumni-led THON fundraisers on the DMAIG Events page. These events vary in size, format, and fundraising totals. Several have attached links to their event websites that you can use as reference.

We’re Here to Help
You’re never on your own in this process! If you have questions, need guidance, or want to brainstorm ideas, please reach out to: Both Julia and Mike are here to help ensure your fundraiser is a success For The Kids®!
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Ready to Get Started?
Every dollar raised by the THON Alumni Community plays a direct role in championing THON’s efforts and continuing the fight against childhood cancer. Together, we can continue to grow our alumni impact, expand awareness, and bring hope to families.

Forever, FTK®.

]]><![CDATA[Atlanta - Diamonds Over Georgia - 2024]]>Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:22:49 GMThttps://www.dmaig.org/blog/atlanta-diamonds-over-georgia-2024We raised just over $57k last year and had about 125 attendees. The evening is a cocktail hour, sit down dinner, silent auction, guest speakers and dancing.
]]><![CDATA[New York City - Hope Gala - 3/23/2024]]>Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:15:52 GMThttps://www.dmaig.org/blog/new-york-city-hope-galaOn March 23, 2024, The Hope Gala celebrated a very special milestone in our organization's history: 15 years in pursuit of a cure! This year, the incredible Hope Gala community once again gathered in New York City's historic Gotham Hall to raise funds for the fight against childhood cancer. We welcomed speaker Greta Bomgardner to the stage, where she touched the hearts of everyone in the room when sharing her son Gus' cancer journey. At 2 years old, Gus was diagnosed with ATRT, a rare and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer. He recently celebrated 2 years cancer-free! Later in the evening, we heard from Dr. Colin Hayes — a childhood cancer survivor, Penn State grad and current pediatric resident at the University of Michigan — who called live via Zoom to show first-hand the impact our community can make against cancer. The evening culminated with $267,264.16 raised For The Kids!
]]><![CDATA[Lehigh Valley - Dance for a Cure 1/27/2024]]>Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:07:20 GMThttps://www.dmaig.org/blog/lehigh-valley-dance-for-a-cureThe Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society held its 12th annual, award-winning, Dance for a Cure fundraiser on Saturday, January 27th, 2024 at the Penn State Lehigh ValleyCampus, 2809 Saucon Valley Rd, Center Valley, Pennsylvania, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Dance for a Cure featured dance lessons from professional instructors in different styles offered throughout the evening. Attendees, regardless of skill level, were encouraged to
participate. Attendees explored different locations within
the campus’ main building and had the opportunity to participate in dances such as the Kuchipudi dance, East Coast Swing, Native American, and country line dance. In addition, there are new body-moving
experiences such as hip-hop yoga, partner acrobatics, and the Garrison Carida Event
Team’s Storm Troopers as well as the beloved Nittany Lion. 

To continue the fun, guests bid on the ever-growing silent auction and participate in multiple
raffles throughout the night. Guests enjoyed fantastic food and beverages throughout the evening from local
establishments such as Weyerbacher Brewing, Cactus Blue, Aman's, NY Stromboli Pizza.

This is the first year that the fundraiser was held at the Penn State Lehigh Valley
campus, which offered additional space for guests to interact with local
businesses and community partners. The event's Premier Sponsor, PSECU, was present in the
campus’ Center Hall so PSU LV students and Dance for a Cure ticket holders witnessed their
commitment to the fight against pediatric cancer.

Dance for a Cure’s 2024 raised $19,400 to benefit Penn State’s Dance
Marathon and the Four Diamonds Fund, THON’s sole beneficiary. Volunteers such as
the Co-founder and Executive Chairman, Christopher Bogden, have been lifelong
supporters of Penn State and THON’s mission and tirelessly organize this event for the
Four Diamond families. The Hoglund's, a Four Diamonds family, shared their story about how THON’s efforts have affected their lives as their
child battled a cancer diagnosis.

Tickets for this year's event were $45.00 and included access to every dance
lesson on PSU’s campus as well as the food and beverage. 

For more information on how to volunteer, participate or become a sponsor, email
danceforacure@psulvalumni.org.
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