Inspiration
The Four Diamonds Fund
The mission of the Four Diamonds Fund is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Children’s Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research. The Fund has helped over 2,000 families since 1972. Approximately 90 new families receive support each year. Any family with a child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey is automatically eligible for support.
The Fund was started by Charles and Irma Millard after the death of their son, Christopher, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 11. To read Chris’s story you can visit http://www.hmc.psu.edu/fourdiamonds/about/chris.htm.
The IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON)
The mission of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, familes, researchers, and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund. In 1973, a small group of dedicated Penn State students held our first Dance Marathon. That year, 39 dancer couples participated and raised $2,000. Since then, THON’s presence in the Penn State community has grown exponentially. THON now has 15,000 student volunteers, 700 dancers, and has raised more than $78 million, benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children’s Hospital.
THON is now a year-long effort that raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. With the support of students from all across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and THON Alumni all around the world, it continues to make great strides towards finding a cure for all childhood cancers.
Children’s National Medical Center
Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, has been serving the nation’s children since 1870. Home to Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals by U.S.News & World Report and the Leapfrog Group. With 283 beds, more than 1,330 nurses, 550 physicians, and seven regional outpatient centers, Children’s National is the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the Washington metropolitan area. Children’s National has been recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet® designated hospital, the highest level of recognition for nursing excellence that a medical center can achieve. For more information, visit www.ChildrensNational.org, receive the latest news from the Children’s National press room, or follow us Facebook and Twitter.
