The Penn State Football Show

NEW YORK, December 2009 — The NYC Hope Gala recently announced football star and Penn State Alumnus LaVar Arrington as Master of Ceremonies. The second annual Hope Gala, taking place on January 22, 2010 at New York City’s legendary Capitale, is designed to help raise money for Penn State’s Dance Marathon, benefiting pediatric cancer.

“Penn State has been a huge part of my life and I am so glad that I can give back by helping out with this event,” said Arrington. “THON is a Penn State tradition right up there with football and the Creamery.”

During his football career at Penn State, LaVar Arrington earned several awards for his defensive skill. He was an All Big-Ten selection, a two-time first team All-American, and won the 1999 Chuck Bednarik, the Dick Butkus and the Lambert Award awards. After leaving Penn State, he played six seasons for the Washington Redskins and one season for the New York Giants.

“We are so excited for LaVar to be involved with this year’s Hope Gala,” said Overall Chair Meghan Day. “He embodies all of the qualities that the Four Diamonds Fund is based on; courage, honesty, wisdom and strength.”

The Hope Gala was created to expand philanthropic efforts beyond Penn State for one of the school’s most unifying traditions, its 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping Dance Marathon, more commonly known as THON. As the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, benefiting the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey, PA, students have raised over $50 million for the cause since 1977 and have helped thousands of children and families in their fight against pediatric cancer. Last year alone THON raised over $6.6 million.

Tickets for the 2009 Hope Gala can be purchased for $175 at:

www.psunyc.org/store.html

For event and sponsorship information, please visit:

http://www.nychopegala.com

About the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON)

The mission of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers, and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund. THON is fundraising over a year-long effort involving thousands of students and culminating in a challenging, two day, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon. THON is changing the lives of students and children, reinforcing the importance of caring for one another, and inspiring the determination needed to beat cancer. THON is helping to conquer pediatric cancer through strategic investments in hospital bills, research efforts, and a new family-centered Pediatric Cancer Pavilion at the Penn State Children's Hospital. Together we will find a cure.

About the Four Diamonds Fund

The mission of The Four Diamonds Fund is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research. Any family with a child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital is automatically eligible for support. The Fund has helped more than 2,000 families since 1972. Approximately 100 new families receive support each year. The Fund offsets the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover, as well as expenses that may disrupt the welfare of the child, such as car repairs, rent, or household utilities. The Fund supports the medical team that cares for the children and funds pediatric cancer research through start-up grants and the Four Diamonds Pediatric Cancer Research Institute.