We are thankful

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

2021 You Signed Up! Now What? (Editing Your Profile Page)

#WeAre so excited to fight pediatric cancer with you!

You’ve signed up for the December 2021 Mont Alto Plunge, and here are a couple ways you can stretch your impact:

  1. Update your personal Mont Alto Plunge profile page.
    1. When you share your link with family and friends, this will give them the info they need to support your efforts.
    2. Go to the link of your personal page and click the “Login” link at the top of the page.
    3. Use your email address and password to log in.
    4. Click the profile link on the left.
    5. Click the little pencil icon at the bottom right of the message area to edit.
    6. Make changes to the message, then click outside the box, and the changes should automatically save.
    7. You can double check by clicking the “View Page” button at the top of the screen.
  2. Then share your Plunge webpage with your networks so your family and friends can support you as you raise funds and awareness to fight childhood cancer! Talk to them around the dinner table. Share our social media posts in the next few weeks. Every little bit counts. Every. Little. Bit.

We can’t wait to jump in with you for real. For the kids!

Happy splashing, heroes,
Mont Alto Plunge Team

You Signed Up! Now What?

Thank you for taking the plunge with us to fight pediatric cancer!

Now that you’re signed up for the December 2021 Mont Alto Plunge, there are two important tasks to tackle, and they’re both easy to do:

  • Send a quick email to montalto.plunge@gmail.com with your name and your shirt size by Friday, November 12 — we’re ordering shirts this week, and we want to get you one that fits.
  • Share your Plunge webpage with your networks so your family and friends can support you as you raise funds and awareness to fight childhood cancer! Every little bit counts. Every. Little. Bit.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in-person or in video in a couple weeks! Feelin’ good about being one of the coolest events around that weekend… For the kids!

Rock on, heroes,
Mont Alto Plunge Team

HOW DO I Sign Up?

Is registering for the Mont Alto Plunge on your short list of things to do, but you just haven’t gotten around to it yet?

You’re a previous Plunge participant, so you know there are three basic stages to doing the Plunge:

  1. Register
  2. Raise funds (and awareness)
  3. Participate in the event

But did you know that you have to sign up for each year you participate? Just because you signed up for previous event does not mean your registered automatically for the 2021 Mont Alto Plunge.

The good news is that registering is easy.

Start at https://montaltoplunge.org

There is a button toward the top of the page that will take you to the registration site with specific instructions. Once you’ve signed up, you can share the link for your own Plunge webpage with your networks so they can donate to the cause.

Its only $10 to sign up, and that gets you a 2021 tee-shirt. Here’s why it’s so important not to wait…

The Mont Alto Plunge raises money, not through registration, but through the work of each participant in the months and weeks leading up to the weekend of the event. Fundraising is where the magic happens, For The Kids.

Do you know folks who would pay to see you jump into a cold lake or tip a bucket of ice water over yourself? We all have those people… How about signing up now so they can get started supporting you in your efforts to fight childhood cancer?

Rock on, heroes,

The Mont Alto Plunge

Annual Mont Alto Plunge returns to an in-person December event to benefit children with cancer

Mont Alto, Pa. — Whether this year’s Mont Alto Plunge participants jump into the lake at Cowans Gap State Park or select the personal option and use a bucket (wherever they may be), icy water is in the forecast for the weekend of December 5, 2021.

Plunge participants are currently fundraising to contribute to the money that Penn State Mont Alto’s student THON dance team will take to the February dance marathon in State College, PA. Money collected to benefit THON helps children and families impacted by pediatric cancer, through the Four Diamonds Foundation. To date, THON has raised more than $190 million and has assisted more than 4,000 families. Since 2018 when the Mont Alto Plunge debuted, this local event has raised $37,500 for that cause.

Last year’s “Personal Plunge” was held virtually as a bucket challenge, raising nearly $9,000. Participants signed up, asked their personal networks for financial support, then shared videos of themselves tipping buckets of cold water over their heads. The style of immersion wasn’t the only way that the 2020 event was different. Conscious of the fact that the pandemic had had an impact on the bottom line of many businesses, the organizers invited their community partners to create teams and participate as an alternative to sponsorship.

Both of these new developments in the delivery of the Plunge were so popular last year that they are being continued as part of future events. This year individuals and teams can participate by plunging into the lake on December 5, or they can opt to do the “Personal Plunge” without making the trek to the State Park. This year businesses can support the Mont Alto Plunge by sponsoring the event or participants, by making donations, or by encouraging their employees to participate.

This event is organized, promoted, and staffed by alumni and students working together. Student Primary Chair of Penn State Mont Alto’s THON team, Raylee Gibbons, shares her personal motivation for getting involved: “Coming from a family where cancer has hit very close home, I THON so no family has to fight the battle alone!”

The process for signing up requires a small initial registration fee of $10, and participants receive a free shirt for getting involved. Details about the upcoming Plunge, how to jump into the activities related to it, and how to contact organizers can be accessed at https://montaltoplunge.org/ .

Meet the Team Monday, Campus and Coummunity Supporters

Randall and Steve (and families!)

Randall and Steve have something in common — not only are they Penn Staters, but their kiddos are, too. And both have had help from their Penn State families in previous Plunge events!

Will you invite someone to join you this year for the Plunge? Who would you like to be on your team? (#ForTheKids) EVERYONE is invited, because everyone can make a difference.

If you’d like to get to know our team better, check out our website: https://montaltoplunge.org/team/

And if you’re ready to sign up to help fight childhood cancer with us (it’s so easy, and only $10), you can get started here: https://montaltoplunge.org/

#WeAre#FTK#MontAltoPlunge

Meet the Team Monday, Event Leaders

AJ and Staci

One of the benefits of working behind the scenes on the Mont Alto Plunge is that you get to jump in the lake in December with your collaborators. Benefit? Drawback? No matter your perspective, it helps raise money #ForTheKids.

AJ has been event chair since its first year, 2018. And Staci joined the fun in 2019. Both are Mont Alto alumni, and both serve on the Alumni Society board of directors. You can help them out in their efforts by sponsoring them. Or signing up to participate. Or sharing Mont Alto Plunge posts with everyone who might want to help. Or all of the above!

We’re planning another post or two to introduce key players in this charitable annual event. If you’re in a hurry to know everyone, you can read ahead by visiting our team page: https://montaltoplunge.org/team/

#WeAre#FTK#MontAltoPlunge

Meet the Team Monday, Alumni Leaders

Angela and Jake

Good leadership is key to every project worth mentioning, and our alumni groups are happy to have GREAT leaders. The Mont Alto Plunge is sponsored by the Franklin County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association and is supported by the Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Society. Meet Angela and Jake!

You can read more about who we are on our team page: https://montaltoplunge.org/team/

If you haven’t yet signed up for this year’s Plunge, it only takes $10 to get the (snow)ball rolling. Jump in with us to help fight childhood cancer!

#WeAre#ForTheKids#MontAltoPlunge

Meet the Team Monday, Student Leaders

Raylee and Layken

We’re proud to present this year’s Primary Chairs of Mont Alto Benefiting THON. The hard work that all our THON students do to combat childhood cancer is inspiring and humbling.

We’re in the process of updating our Team page, if you’d like to check out other Plunge folk: https://montaltoplunge.org/team/

Have you registered yet? It’s only $10 to jump in on the fun — no time like the present!

#WeAre#ForTheKids#MontAltoPlunge

We’re ready for you, 2021!

In 2020 lots of things got personal, and the Mont Alto Plunge was no different.

Now it’s 2021, and we’re planning to both 1. go back to the lake and 2. keep it personal. Wanna run into cold water in person? Join us at the lake. Need to participate from a different location? Get your bucket ready. You have the ability to join the fun and do good deeds whichever way best suits you!

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 plunger:

  1. Register at montaltoplunge.org — all the fun starts there.
    1. You can do this on your own, or create a team.
    2. It’s only $10.00 to register as a participant.
  2. 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.
  3. LAKE OPTION:
    1. Join us on December 5 at Cowans Gap State Park, PA.
    2. Participants will run into the water in waves to keep everyone safe.
    3. We’ll have hot chocolate waiting for you.
  4. PERSONAL OPTION:
    1. On December 3, 4, or 5, 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.
    2. Make your vid public and tag us… We’re on Facebook and Twitter @montaltoplunge
    3. Send us your video! 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!)
  5. 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.

Keep it legal, keep it safe, please.

*Bragging rights for costumes.

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

***If you want to skip the dip, you can just donate! Click the donate button above to join our fight against childhood cancer. You’re our favorite kind of hero, too. <3

#FTK