Penn State U. quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno will travel to New York City in January to be the master of ceremonies at a THON benefit.
For the third year in a row, a group of newly graduated Penn State students will host the THON Hope Gala in New York City at the Capitale banquet venue, with proceeds benefiting the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
During the past few weeks, Hope Gala organizers have given clues to Penn Staters in the NYC area at local bars and via Facebook about who the emcee is this year.
Hailey Apter, Class of 2007 and communications chairwoman for the fundraiser, said the gala started out as four people active in THON during college getting together after they graduated so they could stay involved with the organization.
“Last year the emcee was football player LaVar Arrington,” Apter said. “We’re really excited for Jay Paterno to come.”
Since there is a large alumni network in the Big Apple, Tina Clabbers, Class of 2008, said the Hope Gala is beneficial because it taps into a big alumni resource that was virtually untouched before the gala was created three years ago.
Apter, who was a public relations captain and danced her senior year at Penn State, said the event is a continued success, attracting between 250 and 300 attendees each year.
“Last year we made over $25,000,” Apter said, “We’re hoping to top it this year.”
The gala consists of a silent auction, a cocktail hour and a three-course sit down dinner during which a featured THON family speaks.
Kicking off the evening, the silent auction has been known to include items such as signed Penn State athletic memorabilia, VIP tickets to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and tickets to fly out to Los Angeles and see comedian Chelsea Handler.
Clabbers, another communications chairwoman, said the event has had mostly young attendees in past years, but this year, organizers are trying to gear the invitations toward more prominent alumni within the city.
“We want to spread the word to the older crowd,” Clabber said, “So next year, they will already know of this event and already have it budgeted and put into their schedule.”
Apter said she hopes the audience will broaden enough to possibly get people to attend who danced in the ’70s or ’80s.
The gala, set for Jan. 21, 2011, will hopefully bring in even more people than last year, Apter said.
Sean Shapiro, overall chairman for the gala, said there has been an increase in volunteers getting involved, items being donated and awareness around New York City since the event began in 2008.
“Being a part of Penn State, we have such a great alumni association,” Shapiro, Class of 2008, said. “And we’re just really excited for this gala to get bigger and better as time goes on.”
Paterno could not be reached for comment by press time Monday.