THON happened last weekend, and our Mont Alto students placed 5th among all Penn State campuses by the amount raised ($42,373.05). All the donations have been finalized, so here’s a look back at what our annual Mont Alto Plunge event accomplished this year!

TOTAL AMOUNT DONATED FROM 2022 PLUNGE TO THON THROUGH MONT ALTO STUDENTS

$10,009

TOP 5 MONT ALTO PLUNGE DONORS (BY TOTAL GIVEN)

• Chad Gordon
• Darlene Giasomo
• Page and Craig Nitterhouse
• Ethan Rossignol
• Roger Kuehl

TOP 10 PARTICIPANTS (BY AMOUNT RAISED)

• Randall Ackerman
• Darlene Giasomo
• Jake Schrom
• Staci Grimes
• Brianna Barnes
• Mayze Gordon
• Avery Diehl
• Hannah Bumbaugh
• Aiden Roberts
• Amanda Bingham

TOP TEAMS (BY AMOUNT RAISED)

• Adley’s Adventure, with 24 participants
• The Mill Café Squad, with 4 participants

TOTAL FUNDRAISING  FOR 2023 THON

$15,006,132.46 — that isn’t a typo. More than fifteen million dollars were raised this year for THON by all campuses together, to raise awareness, to sponsor research, and to support children and families impacted by childhood cancer. And everyone who helped with the Mont Alto Plunge in December contributed to that final dollar amount! If you’re curious to know how meaningful each dollar is, visit the THON.org.

HIGHLIGHTS

One of everyone’s favorite parts of the 2022 Mont Alto Plunge was having little Adley Gordon and her wonderful support team in attendance. Adley got to attend THON, too!

Cumberland Valley Tree Service Landscaping and JPI Insurance Associates provided sponsorship again. We are grateful for our relationships with the people at these companies, and we appreciate their ongoing assistance.

It takes a village to put on an annual event like ours, and our alumni / student partnership benefits from lots of other local folks and companies who pitched in to help us accomplish our goals. We add them to the Sponsors page of our website to celebrate their support.

Photos from December’s event are online, too, if you’d like to see the fun!

ABOUT OUR ANNUAL EVENT

The Mont Alto Plunge is held every December at Cowans Gap State Park, in south-central Pennsylvania. Penn State Mont Alto students and alumni collaborate to host the Plunge, and all profits are sent to THON each year through the Mont Alto student THON group.

Anyone (alumni, students, staff, faculty, neighbors, community members) can participate / donate / sponsor as part of the annual Mont Alto Plunge. We even offer a bucket challenge-style option for anyone who can’t get to the lake! Our website will be updated with details for the next event when they’re available. You can also find us in Facebook and Twitter.

A THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO JOINS US

Through our efforts, we are reminded of the goodness of people — we are inspired by each person helping in their own way, all #ForTheKids.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

As you all know, our Mont Alto Plunge planning committee is comprised of student and alumni volunteers who spend their time, money, attention, and effort to work both toward supporting families facing pediatric cancer diagnoses and toward contributing to research to find a cure.

As committee members have transitioned out of their Plunge roles, we’ve made space for new volunteers to share the responsibilities. As a result, some of our information has changed for individuals holding different positions (for example, the contact info in the footer area at the bottom of this message).

What hasn’t changed?

• Our website. You’ll always be able to find us at montaltoplunge.org. 
• Our social media channels. Whether you’re in Facebook or Twitter, our account is always @montaltoplunge.
• Our goals to
  • Make the world a better place, right here, right now
  • Strengthen our communities

Thank you for being a part of this work.

Love,
The Mont Alto Plunge Team

It’s getting cooler outside — perfect for a Plunge!

This year’s event will be held both in-person at Cowans Gap State Park, as well as remotely for those of you who prefer a bucket to a lake. So if you aren’t in the area on that weekend, you still have the option to join us in a meaningful way!

As you know, all profits go to help combat childhood cancer through Penn State’s THON. Alumni and students from Penn State Mont Alto collaborate to bring you this opportunity to do good.

Here’s how to become a participant

• Register
• You can do this on your own, or create a team.
• It’s only $10.00 to register as a participant.
• Share your personal page link with all your social groups. Do you know anyone who will pay to see you jump in a lake or dump ice water on your head? We bet you do. They can pay up when they visit your page.

Lake option

Join us on December 4, 2022 at Cowans Gap State Park, PA. Participants will run into the water in waves to keep everyone safe. We’ll have hot chocolate waiting for you.

Personal option

On December 2, 3, or 4, post a video of you saying “I’m doing the Mont Alto Personal Plunge to fight childhood cancer!” and then tipping a bucket of ice water over yourself.

Make your vid public and tag us… We’re on Facebook and Twitter @montaltoplunge

Send us your video, too! We’ll compile a video montage from the videos that are sent over. (Go to https://wetransfer.com/, upload your video, enter montalto.plunge@gmail.com to send it — this is free!) Follow us on our social channels for updates. You’re our favorite kind of hero. We can’t wait to see how COOL you get.

Who can participate?

EVERYONE over the age of 12! Whether you’re a student or alum of Penn State Mont Alto, an employee or a neighbor, a local business or social group, a community member or a community organization, we invite everyone to sign up today and start raising money to help benefit families dealing with childhood cancer diagnoses. And if you can’t see yourself immersing, you can skip the dip but still make a difference!

We suggest setting up a team at work for some healthy fundraising competition. You know, #ForTheKids.

How do I just donate or sponsor?

If you can’t see yourself immersing, you can skip the dip AND still make a difference! Just click the donate button on our homepage to join our fight against childhood cancer. Follow the same path to find a participant or team to sponsor, if you’d like to help make the fundraising interesting for everyone who is jumping in!

WE ARE deeply grateful for the good work of everyone who joins us in this endeavor. Thank you for being a part of it!

Love,
The Mont Alto Plunge

How cold will the water be? Who will be in costume? What color will this year’s shirts be? How much will we have raised to help children and families dealing with pediatric cancer? It’s gonna be COOL to find out!

There’s still time to participate. Or… skip the dip and drop a couple bucks into the bucket by donating or sponsoring. Everything goes to Penn State THON and Four Diamonds #ForTheKids (access options at https://montaltoplunge.org)

for the kids and families we benefit. Their bravery in the face of a terrifying diagnosis inspires us to help.

We are thankful for the students who dance at THON and the students who support them. Their dedication motivates us to do something, too.

We are thankful for the Penn State alumni who jump in every year to hold our annual Plunge. Their collaboration strengthens our resolve to work cooperatively.

We are thankful for THON and The Four Diamonds Foundation. These organizations have made it possible to make an actual impact in the world, alongside thousands of other people who are working toward the same goals.

We are thankful for our communities, all of them, no matter their size or type. Their unwavering backing reinforces our faith in our neighbors and humanity.

We are thankful for you.

Your friends at the Mont Alto Plunge