Four Diamonds was created in 1972 after Charles and Irma Millard lost their 14-year-old son, Christopher, to cancer. Four Diamonds’ mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Children’s Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research.
The impact made by donors
Any family with a child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital is automatically eligible to receive support. Four Diamonds covers all expenses for the care and treatment of a child not paid for by insurance or other means, and assists families with expenses that have the potential to disrupt the welfare of their child, such as car repairs, rent, or household utilities. Thanks to Four Diamonds, families never receive a medical bill for their care, allowing them to focus on what matters most—getting their child better.
Contributions to Four Diamonds have helped more than 4,000 families to date by providing superior care and financial support for an average of 500 patients each year—100 who are newly diagnosed and 400 who are continuing their fight. This would not be possible were it not for private gifts, which comprise more than 80 percent of received contributions.
Four Diamonds also supports the professional team that cares for and treats children and families—a team comprised of pediatric oncologists, nurse specialists, social workers, child life specialists, a clinical nutritionist, a clinical psychologist, a music therapist, a genetic counselor, and a neuropsychologist—just to name a few.
Additionally, since 1993, Four Diamonds has provided annual support to pediatric cancer research, and, in 1999, established The Four Diamonds Pediatric Cancer Research Center at the Penn State College of Medicine. The continued support of pediatric cancer research, aimed at reaching the ultimate goal of curing childhood cancer, has resulted in an increase in the survival rates for some cancers.
Four Diamonds and THON™
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON, began in 1973, when thirty-nine dance couples raised $2,136 for a local nonprofit organization. Four years later, Four Diamonds and THON united For The Kids™ when THON named Four Diamonds the sole beneficiary of its fundraising activities. Since 1977, THON has raised $147 million in the fight to conquer childhood cancer, with $10 million raised in 2017. As the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON annually engages more than 16,000 student volunteers in generating awareness and raising funds for the fight against pediatric cancer.
Meet a Four Diamonds family
There is no better way to see the impact of philanthropy to Four Diamonds than through the stories of children and families who have benefitted from this support. To meet some of these inspiring families, visit THON’s Family page on thon.org or visit FourDiamonds.org.
Make a gift
Your gift to THON funds world-class care and life-saving research to families fighting pediatric cancer. Give hope to kids around the world by making a gift at donate.thon.org.