Penn State Berks to send four dancers to THON 2025, hosts send-off event

February 12, 2025 - 10:17 PM - Berks Weekly

Penn State Berks is showing support for the members of Berks Benefitting THON who are representing the college at THON, the University’s dance marathon which benefits families battling pediatric cancer. There will be a dancer send-off from 12 – 2 p.m., Thursday Feb. 20, 2025, in Perkins Student Center Lion’s Den. The campus community will gather to wish the dancers and co-overall chairs well, and the send-off will be open to the public. Philly Pretzel Factory’s Muhlenberg site will provide free soft pretzels for attendees.

From Friday, Feb. 21, to Sunday, Feb. 23, Penn State students from every campus will gather at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University Park for THON, the 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon to benefit Four Diamonds. This year’s theme is “A Home for Hope.” For those who cannot make it in-person, there will be a live stream at THON Livestream.

This year’s Berks dancers include juniors Kelvin Garcia-Bonilla and Cassady Wallace; and sophomores Heather Hoffman and Johnathan Newnham. Berks Benefitting THON is represented by the co-overall chairs Savannah Bogari and Lindsey Giacobello, who will be traveling to University Park with the dancers.

Bogari, a business major, has participated in THON every year during her time at Penn State and was a dancer in 2023. She will have the opportunity to speak on stage this year at THON because Berks was awarded the satellite campus spotlight , which provides a chance for representatives from selected campuses to speak about their personal experiences with THON.

“I’m excited to support our dancers. Having been a dancer, I know how much it means to have the support from our organization, and I am excited to provide that for our dancers. I am so proud of them. I am also excited to give a speech on stage at THON this year as Berks got the satellite campus spotlight,” Bogari said.

Giacobello, an accounting major, has been a member of Berks Benefitting THON for the last two years, and also participated in her high school’s Mini THON.

Each of the four student dancers had a personal reason for participating in THON.

Garcia-Bonilla is a kinesiology major who has participated in THON since the spring semester of his sophomore year. He explained, “I joined THON because back in 2011, I lost my grandfather to cancer. He had a huge influence on my life, and I struggled with denial for years after his passing, unable to accept the reality of his death. Basically, I THON to do everything I can to help others avoid the pain of losing a loved one.”

Wallace is also a kinesiology major. This is her first year in Berks Benefitting THON. She has been shadowing a physician assistant at Hershey Medical Center who specializes in oncology and her mother works in Hershey Medical Center as a radiation oncologist.

She explained how her mother has influenced her, stating, “The sadness that radiates off her anytime she treats a child makes me want to fight for a cure. I never want anyone else to have to speak the words, ‘My child has cancer.’”

Hoffman is a biology major who joined THON in the spring semester of her first year. She originally joined THON to support her fellow Berks dancers, but that changed when she met with the THON families.

“Seeing how THON makes a difference for our families makes me honored to be a part of it,” Hoffman said.

Newnham is a supply chain information systems major. His role within Berks Benefitting THON is to keep track of expenses for the club. He had been part of Berks Benefitting THON since his first year and participated in Mini THON during high school, where he danced for twelve hours in support of Four Diamonds.

The members of Berks Benefitting THON stated that they are excited to raise money and represent the college at this coming THON.

The group has been raising funds for THON throughout the year. Berks Benefitting THON hosted various fundraisers at Red Robin, Honeygrow, Yogo Crazy and MOD Pizza. They also raised money at the college by selling pretzels, candy and popcorn and hosting ‘Pie in the Face’ event, homecoming bingo, and their largest event, the annual Inspire the Night benefit dinner hosted off campus at the Redner’s Event Center at First Energy Stadium. To date, they have raised $17,252.

In 2024, THON raised $16,955,683.63, with Penn State Berks raising $34,090.75, earning the fifth spot among the Commonwealth Campuses for THON fundraising. Donations will be accepted until midnight of Feb. 22 at THON DONATION PAGE.