FOTO
Join us on February 21, 2025
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Help save the lives of children battling cancer by supporting THON. FOTO is taking action by uniting with 16,500 student volunteers to raise funds and awareness in the fight against childhood cancer. Since 1977, THON has raised over $204 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children's Hospital. Throughout our partnership, we have ensured that over 4,800 families have not seen a single medical bill. In addition, the local research that is being done is making a global impact so that one day, we will find a cure. Each February, THON's yearlong efforts and support for the families culminate in a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon. By supporting THON, you will be joining a community committed to conquering childhood cancer.
FOTO is a Special Interest Organization at Penn State whose sole purpose is to support THON and our Four Diamonds Families. FOTO was founded in 2009 by Adam Fountaine, in honor of his brother Tommy. Since then, FOTO has raised over $1,500,000 in the fight against pediatric cancer. Throughout the year, we contribute to the efforts of thousands of Penn State students by facilitating fundraisers and providing emotional support to our families. Click here to see what a year in FOTO is like! FOTO is lucky to have 4 wonderful Four Diamonds families: The Eslingers, The Knapers, The Tramels, and The Rosses.
Since 1977, THONTM has raised over $168 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Children's Hospital. Throughout our partnership, we have ensured that over 4,000 families have not seen a single medical bill. In addition, the local research that is being done is making a global impact so that one day, we will find a cure. Each February, THON's yearlong efforts and support for the families culminate in a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon.
Megan is our THON Child! She is seventeen years old and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January 2009 at the age of 18 months. She could not walk during the first three months of treatment due to pain, and she courageously received many different types of chemotherapy to fight her battle. Megan finished her treatment in April 2011 at the age of three and today is happy and healthy! She graduated High School in the spring of 2024 and cannot wait to see the incredible things she will accomplish. We are so proud of the amazing girl she has become!
Logan is our THON child! He is sixteen years old and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in September 2011. Logan finished his treatment in December 2014 and has been cancer free for six years! Logan has grown his hair out for the past few years, and at THON 2018, he donated it on stage! Logan is very active and plays for his high school football team. We are so proud of all Logan has done and continues to do!
Matty is our THON Child! Matty is ten years old was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 1, and he has battled numerous infections and has spent months in the hospital requiring specialized treatment. Fortunately, Matty is now cancer-free as of February 2018 and was able to attend his first THON in 2019! Matty struggles from time to time but he is doing better each and every day Through his treatment, Matty has remained one of the happiest and most playful kids we have ever met. Matty loves legos, card games, and of course water gun fights with FOTO!
Brooke is our THON Child! Brooke is ten years old and was diagnosed with Ependymoma, a very rare brain tumor, in March of 2022. She began chemotherapy in July 2022 and finished active treatment in September of that year. Brooke loves animals and wants to be a zookeeper when she grows up. FOTO is very lucky to have Brooke and her family and we can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes!
FOTO is beyond proud to have such strong children and their amazing families be part of our family!
Over the first two weeks of the year, FOTO has had so much fun spending time with our families. On September 7, we celebrated our first home football game of the year with the Tramel Family and had a fun little tailgate! Along with that, our members helped Matty sell Boy Scout Popcorn before the game began. Then, on September 14, we enjoyed some beautiful weather with the Ross Family with an outdoor picnic! We played soccer, tag, and enjoyed an obstacle course on the playground. We are so grateful to get to spend time with our families and get to enjoy them just be kids!
October is almost over and FOTO is not slowing down! On October 12, we traveled down to York to cheer on Lucas at his hockey game! We started with Lunch at Primanti Brother's, watched Lucas' team take home the win, and ended the afternoon visiting Logan at his ice cream job! (and of course got a scoop). Then, over Parent's Weekend October 19-20, FOTO celebrated our second annual FOTO friends and family gala. We were able to see the Knaper's, Tramel's, Rosses, and Fountaine's, our founding family whose journey through a childhood cancer diagnosis inspired their youngest son Adam to found FOTO in 2009. Then on Sunday we participated in the Annual THONTM 5K, with a finish the lyric perfomrance from our members Cate and Tyler, our president Dylan made an appearance in a Hot Dog Costume, and of course a trip to Texas Roadhouse after!