Highlighting Eclipse, A Special Interest Organization for THON™
UNIVERSITY PARK - Special interest organizations exist solely to raise money for Penn State’s THON, in order to help maximize fundraising efforts.
Some of the top fundraising special interest organizations from 2022 are Atlas, Eclipse and Ohana.
“With the power that the organizations can do, especially when they’re big, it’s one of the most beautiful things,” Andres Montero (fourth-year - kinesiology), president of Eclipse, said.
Eclipse was founded in 2016 and has become one of the largest THON organizations on Penn State University Park campus.
“Being able to have 200, 300 members come together and work together on finding a cure, raising money, or doing whatever,” Montero said.
Montero joined Eclipse because he wanted to help people in a similar situation as him. His roommate, already a member at the time, introduced him to the organization.
He stayed in the organization because the people in Eclipse held the same ideals as him, Montero said.
Starting as a general member, he saw the work the board members of the organization were doing and wanted to be a part of Eclipse in that way.
Montero applied and became the family relations chair in association with the Reedy family. Then, he went from family relations on the board to president.
Fundraising isn’t necessarily the most important focus for Eclipse, Montero said. He wants the members to be satisfied with however much money they raise.
As president, Montero explained he cares more about the less typical contributions other organizations might not think of doing.
“For example, we had the blood drive and that was a big moneymaker for lack of better terms,” Montero said. “We had almost 90 people sign up for it and that’s a potential of saving close to 270 plus people in real life, in a situation they really need it.”
Special interest organizations, like Eclipse, are the main source of donations that contribute to THON’s total at the end of the 46 hours.
Cassie Baylis is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ceb6085@psu.edu.
