Hollywood Dances For A Cure

Every singer has the moment, one instance in which they believe they can be something more than they are.

Kait Weston’s moment came two years ago when a woman in the audience broke down crying as she sang inside of a New York café.

“That was my moment of inspiration when I realized I could connect with people,” Kait said. “I could tell there was some stress in her life, and it felt good to take her away from that.”

That moment is partly why Kait bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles two years ago. It’s partly why when she told her mom she’d be back in two weeks, she never returned. It’s partly why she cans for THON on Hollywood Boulevard while singing. It’s partly why she’ll be performing at Penn State’s THON for a second year in a row in less than two weeks.

New Kensington Picks 4 THON Dancers

 THON is indescribable with words, so to give THON newcomers a taste of  THON we show them YouTube videos.

“It looks incredible,” said Bill Staniszewski, who will attend his first THON in 25 days. “I can’t wait to be there.”

Neither can New Kensington’s Leigh Hastings, Aric Fellers and Courtney Rockwell, who will join Staniszewski as New Kensington’s four dancers at THON.

Springfield's Mini-THON Raises Funds, Awareness Like Penn State's THON

Springfield High School's mini-THON raised $170,262.58 in 2012.
Photo submitted by Chelsea Pierce.

Mini-THONs are just like Penn State’s THON, but they’re run by high school, middle school and elementary students. In 2012, there were 80 mini-THONs.

Springfield High School has had mini-THONs for the last 10 years in the memory of Steve Stefani, a Social Studies teacher who passed away in 2002 from lung cancer. Springfield rose over $170,000 this year.

“A mini-THON is a chance for high school students to do the same thing the big THON does,” said John Gildea, who has been Springfield’s mini-THON’s faculty advisor for the last seven years. “It allows students to have leadership and compassion for these children, and it allows them to come together as a school and raise donations for the Four Diamonds Fund.”

Gildea is a Penn State alumnus who danced three times at Penn State’s THON, so he knows what THON is about. He brings students who are a part of Springfield’s leadership team up to Penn State’s THON each year.

“It really hits home for them when they see family hour and the total being revealed,” Gildea said.

The experience for some of Gildea’s students has prompted them to attend Penn State.