宾州中央谷. — 索恩 spans one epic 46-hour weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center every February, but the team behind the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon holds supporting events all year long. A new special events director with Lehigh Valley roots was recently named to 索恩’s student-run executive committee for 2024 to oversee them all.
艾登·约翰逊, a graduate of Southern Lehigh High School, is no stranger to 索恩, having volunteered during all four of his years at Penn State. He said he was inspired to do more during his tenure as hospitality chair in his junior year. When he was offered a position on the executive committee, 约翰逊, a rising senior at Penn State 大学公园, 准备上菜了.
Now in its 51st year, 索恩 is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. 在16,500 student volunteers and community supporters have raised over $219 million, 去年, 索恩 broke its own record by raising more than $15 million. All proceeds benefit 索恩’s sole beneficiary, 四个钻石, which covers 100% of all medical expenses for families affected by childhood cancer at the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
As the special events director, 约翰逊 oversees the signature events held around the event during the year — 索恩 5K powered by PNC; Harvest Day; 100 Days ‘til 索恩; and the Family Carnival among them — and manages the 18 captains who run the various event committees.
“We have about 120 volunteers total,” 约翰逊 said. “It’s a really great dynamic.”
Each campus holds their own events to support 索恩 — although 约翰逊 is happy to lend a hand with any event, 他说, his efforts are primarily focused on those held at 大学公园. He shadowed 索恩’s new executive director, 将文森特, who previously handled special events, to ensure a smooth transition.
约翰逊 said he has three goals for his tenure: to make events as accessible and inclusive as possible for the 四个钻石 families; to have the volunteers enjoy the events as much as they can, and “get as many eyes on the organization as we can,他说.
“The events open up a lot of outreach opportunities — I want to use them to brand 索恩," 他说. 至于添加事件, 他说 he is considering some new ones on the smaller scale, as the signature events are already associated with 索恩.
约翰逊 said he is looking forward to his role and continuing the long tradition of philanthropy, 希望, and community that the event represents. 索恩 recently kicked off its third annual “Ignite the Fight” campaign to raise awareness of the opening of its fundraising window, which runs from July 1, 2023, until 索恩 Weekend 2024 on Feb. 16-18, 2024.
For more information about 索恩, visit the 索恩 website.
