The word THON has left the lips of nearly every single Penn State student at least once for the past 37 years. In the same vein, nearly every student and alumni have a general idea of what THON is all about. If you were to survey any one student still awake in a 100 Thomas lecture, he would probably respond with ” it’s the largest student-run philanthropy” or ‘”it’s FTK.” Both correct. But what if you were to ask how it got started, or what exactly the Four Diamonds represent–would they know?

Recently, Onward State got a hold of a new video vignette released by The Four Diamonds Fund. The video, featuring Four Diamonds visionaries Charles and Irma Millard, Tucker Haas, and countless other Four Diamond Families, explains the roots of The Four Diamonds Fund and THON.

Inspired by his son Chris Millard’s story “The Four Diamonds,” Charles Millard and his wife Irma started the year-round effort to collect money to help fight pediatric cancer. Getting its name from the four diamonds in Chris’ story, the fund embodied a young boy’s vision of honesty, courage, wisdom, and strength. Penn State students caught wind of the Millard family and shared the same vision of “conquering childhood cancer.” THON was born. Nearly $70 million later, the vision of a young Chris Millard and his parents continue to inspire not just the Blue and White, but those all over the world.

The video is a reminder to why we THON –a must-watch for any Penn State student. Didn’t get involved with THON this year? Interested in learning more about the Four Diamonds Fund? Check out the video below.

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