Founding
Springfield began on the ground floor of Simmons residence hall in 1999 with the repainting of an all pink hall to feature many characters from the popular cartoon The Simpsons. While this seems an unlikely story of origins, the camaraderie built between friends Matt Thomas, Pat Seymour, and Bob Fay during that undertaking became the base upon which our organization was founded.
In 2000, Springfield was born as the first THON Special Interest Organization, setting the stage for numerous other organizations created for the primary purpose of participating in THON. Over the past 21 years, Springfield has focused its efforts into fundraising For The Kids, in addition to supporting several Four Diamonds Families and fostering close friendships between members.
If you have any information related to Springfield's history that you would like to share, email springfieldpsu@gmail.com.
Springfield Throughout the Years
THON 2001: Within Reach
Dancers: Matt Thomas, Eric Hough
Chairs: Matt Thomas - Executive Chair
Fundraising Total: $6,500.00 (approx)
Milestones: Springfield was founded on the ground floor of Simmons Hall, went canning for the first time, hosted its first fundraiser (a haunted house!), and participated in its first-ever THON Weekend!
THON 2002: ...With All Your Heart
Dancers: Bob Fay, Christine MacAulay, Liz Martin, Pat Seymour, Melissa Kalwanaski*
Chairs: Bob Fay - Executive Chair
Fundraising Total: $14,605.28
Milestones: Springfield expanded to include girls who lived in Simmons Hall, hosted its first annual Head Shaving event, and was paired with its first THON child, Amanda!
THON 2003: Hope Surrounds Us
Dancers: Aryn Gabai, Haley Chutz, Jen Beck, Mike O'Connor
Chairs: Aryn Gabai - Executive Chair; Jen Beck - Family Relations
Fundraising Total: $25,643.92
THON 2004: Always Believing
Dancers: Christina Cress, Dane Schlenke, David Kalos, Ian Confer
Chairs: David Kalos - Executive Chair; Gaelyn Neely - Family Relations; Christina Cress - Family Relations; Dane Schlenke - Social
Fundraising Total: $35,272.77
Milestones: Springfield was paired with the Seth Wesley Family and expanded its chair board!
THON 2005: Embracing Dreams, Sharing Tomorrow
Dancers: Brian Ghigiarelli, Erin Carter, Mike Gough, Sara Jubelirer, Kristin Rink*
Chairs: Dane Schlenke - Executive Chair; Christina Cress - Family relations; Monique Maslak - Family Relations; Gaelyn Neely - Social
Fundraising Total: $35,000.00 (approx)
THON 2006: Together We’ll Prevail
Dancers: Emily Herron, Jes Galvin, Jim Irvine, Michelle Laboda
Chairs: Michelle Laboda - Executive Chair; Beth Shore - Family Relations; Monique Maslak - Family Relations; Jes Galvin - Social
Fundraising Total: $38,352.15
Milestones: Springfield was paired with the Xavier Colon Family and supported them as Xavier became Springfield’s angel in March 2006.
THON 2007: Many Hearts, One Home
Dancers: Beth Shore, Hallie Bernstein, Heather Lake, John Pedlow, Jon Tidd, Melissa Annett
Chairs: Jon Tidd - Executive Chair; Beth Shore - Family Relations; Mac Pedlow - Family Relations; Heather Lake - Social; Jen Morrissey - Fundraising
Fundraising Total: $62,521.63
Milestones: Springfield was paired with the Kenzie Robertson Family and Xander Colon was born!
THON 2008: Hope Finds A Way
Dancers: Hanna Xu, Jennifer Morrissey, Joe England, Michael Fabrizio, Ross England, Ryan Hennessey
Chairs: Joe England - Executive Chair; Beth Shore - Family Relations; Jackie Rohrbeck - Family Relations; Jillian Knowles - Social; Jon Tidd - Fundraising; Ross England - Fundraising; Ryan Hennessey - Technology
Fundraising Total: $128,818.58
Milestones: Springfield was paired with the Renata Negley Family and doubled its previous fundraising total, passing the $100,000 mark for the first time!
THON 2009: Dream Forward
Dancers: Brianne Beatty, Carly D'Ottavio, Erin Holt, Greg Plumb, Hannah Woytowicz, Jackie Rohrbeck, Kelsey Karli, Laura Karp, Sarah Boyer, Ted Present
Chairs: Greg Plumb - Executive Chair; Laura Karp - Family Relations; Jackie Rohrbeck - Family Relations; Erin Holt - Social; Jon Tidd - Canning; Vinay Ayala - Donor Relations; Ted Present - Technology
Fundraising Total: $133,864.19
Milestones: Springfield had 10 dancers in THON for the first time and Renata Negley finished her cancer treatments!
THON 2010: Love Belongs Here
Dancers: Britt Kern, Bryan Krawiec, Claire Xu, Gabbie Gort, Ian Price, Jeff Szklinski, Katherine Nicol, Katy Poole, Martha Soos, Vinay Ayala
Chairs: Jeff Szklinski - Executive Chair; Alice Lee - Family Relations; Ted Present - Family Relations; Laura Karp - Family Relations; Britt Kern - Canning; Vinay Ayala - Donor Relations; Claire Xu - Alternative Fundraising; Gabbie Gort - Social; Hannah Woytowicz - Social; Rob Sakovich - Communications
Fundraising Total: $177,536.74
Milestones: Springfield raised its 500,000th dollar FTK and Jude Negley was born!
THON 2011: Together Without Limits
Dancers: Kelsi Carrick, Sarah Colten, Christine Crain, Sam Guthrie, Marcos Hernandez, Matt Kaslow, Alice Lee, Tina Lee, Meg Shanley, Lauren Walker, Justin Sloane*
Chairs: Meg Barnett - Executive Chair; Alice Lee - Family Relations; Christine Crain - Family Relations; Britt Kern - Special Events; Joe Giordano - Canning; Vinay Ayala - Donor Relations; Jeff Szklinski - Alternative Fundraising; Kelsi Carrick - Social; Matt Kaslow - Communications
Fundraising Total: $207,244.76
Milestones: Springfield raised over $200,000 for the first time and built an awesome playground for the Colon Family!
THON 2012: Brighten Every Journey
Dancers: Laura Verne, Meg Barnett, Joe Giordano, Melissa Augustino, Chris Fiscus, Nish Pandya, Matt Jaffe, Deb Cibos, Sam Kohler, Nate Jacobs*
Chairs: Joe Tucker - Executive Chair; Melissa Augustino - Family Relations; Nish Pandya - Family Relations; Brendan Tomoschuk - Canning; Meg Barnett - Donor Relations (THONvelopes); Matt Kaslow - Donor Relations (Corporate); Kelsi Carrick - Alternative Fundraising; Allison Geesey - Social; Matt Krott - Communications
Fundraising Total: $170,064.69
Milestones: Springfield raised its millionth dollar FTK and went to Shocktoberfest with the Colons for the first time!
THON 2013: Inspire Tomorrow’s Miracles
Dancers: Joe Tucker, Steven Lilley, Brianna Callahan, Liz Kimble, Mark Goldy-Brown, Aneesh Deoras, Caroline Hozza, Ali Zein Yousuf, Alison Geesey*, Brittany Mohney*
Chairs: Brendan Tomoschuck - Executive Chair; Caroline Hozza - Family Relations; Marissa Stavropoulos - Family Relations; Cotter Boyle - Canning; Nish Pandya - Donor Relations (THONvelopes); Nick Frazzette - Donor Relations (Corporate); Jackie Guo - Alternative Fundraising; Steven Lilley - Community; Liz Kimble - Technology; Brianna Callahan - Public Relations
Fundraising Total: $170,886.16
Milestones: Springfield brought Kenzie to her first anime convention and moved weekly meetings to 10 Henderson!
THON 2014: Redefine The Possibilities
Dancers: Joyce Lee, Katie McEnery, Joe Moroney, Zach Reitz, Jackie Guo, Patrick Boynton, Kari Hartbauer, Emily Duke
Chairs: Mark Goldy-Brown - Executive Chair; Taylor Manalo - Family Relations; Kari Hartbauer - Family Relations; Matt Malencia - Canning; Nish Pandya - Donor Relations (THONvelopes); Patrick Boynton - Donor Relations (Corporate); Emily Duke - Alternative Fundraising; Lauren Doberstein - Community; Nick Doyle - Technology; Joe Moroney - Public Relations
Fundraising Total: $236,789.42
Milestones: Springfield was paired with the Calli Silbaugh Family and broke its all-time fundraising record!
THON 2015: Empower The Dreamers
Dancers: Zaynab Yousuf, Ian McQuade, Lauren Doberstein, Marissa Stavropoulos, Cotter Boyle, Meg Egan, Taylor Manalo, Seamus O’Hara, Mariam Ahmad*
Chairs: Cotter Boyle - Executive Chair; Alyssa Mangano - Family Relations; Seamus O’Hara - Canning; Josh Bram - Donor and Alumni Relations; Tori Bertocci - Donor and Alumni Relations; Ian McQuade - Alternative Fundraising; Ryan Williams - Alternative Fundraising; Nick Frazzette - Community; Lauren Doberstein - Public Relations
Fundraising Total: $270,015.49
Milestones: Springfield’s fundraising total was its highest to date, and Springfielders celebrated and honored the life of Kathleen Robertson, who passed away in September 2014.
THON 2016: Believe Beyond Boundaries
Dancers: Josh Bram, Mark Travor, Matthew Casey, Tori Bertocci, Matt Krott, Rachel Krott, Kate Kielceski, Ngoc-Tram Bui, Tom Mueller, Brian Kelly, John Connolly*
Chairs: Josh Bram - Executive Chair; Rachel Krott - Family Relations; Phil Miller - Family Relations; Marcus Erdman - Canning; Delia Carr - Donor and Alumni Relations; Kate Kielceski - Donor and Alumni Relations; Ryan Williams - Alternative Fundraising; Marie Brulenski - Special Events; Chris Frazzette - Community; Sam Mayhew -Public Relations; Anna Wing - Admin
Fundraising Total: $196,439.84
Milestones: Springfield moved its home to 233 HUB, chose a new logo, and dedicated a tree in memory of Kathleen Robertson.
THON 2017: Igniting Hope Within
Dancers: Andrew Boynton, Jamie Maximuck, Matt Crager, Mike Makowski, Rebecca Febbo, Ryan Williams, Sarah Bevilaqua
Chairs: Ryan Williams - Executive Chair; Erika Exton - Family Relations; Rachel Brettler - Family Relations; Matt Crager - Donor and Alumni Relations; Sarah Bevilacqua - Donor and Alumni Relations; Kelly Williams - Canning/Canvassing; Caitlin Kushnir - Communications; Annalise Jethon - Alternative Fundraising; Jamie Maximuck - Special Events; Maggie Ledrick - Community
Fundraising Total: $192,883.78
Milestones: Springfield was paired with the Taiven Schopf Family, raised its 2-millionth dollar FTK, and was the highest earning Special Interest Organization!
THON 2018: Discovering Tomorrow's Wonder
Dancers: Erika Exton, Maggie Ledrick, Sarah Vasile, Demi Kouvaris, Beth Reilly, Rachel Durnin, Caitlin Kushnir, Marissa Modi*
Chairs: Erika Exton - Executive Chair; Laura Fenerty - Family Relations; Dee Curtin - Family Relations; Caitlin Kushnir - Donor and Alumni Relations; Rachel Durnin - Donor and Alumni Relations; Greg Gavazzi - Fundraising Outreach; Dan Herlihy - Communications; Kellie Boyle - Alternative Fundraising; Mitch Rosen - Special Events; Demi Kouvaris - Community
Fundraising Total: $168,078.73
Milestones: Calli Silbaugh was declared cancer free and DonorDrive went live as the first official online fundraising platform for THON!
THON 2019: Shape the Moment
Dancers: Kelly Williams, Joey Deptula, Panini Pandya, Mitch Rosen, Sean Saltzgaber, Greg Gavazzi, Katie Walters, Katie Blankemeyer*
Chairs: Kelly Williams - Executive Chair; Joey Deptula - Family Relations; Hailey Atiyeh - Family Relations; Erin Bevilacqua - Donor and Alumni Relations; Panini Pandya - Donor and Alumni Relations; Kathryn King - Fundraising Outreach; Justina Luongo - Communications; Beth Reilly - Alternative Fundraising; Corey Pasternak - Special Events; Mitch Rosen - Community
Fundraising Total: $149,371.84
Milestones: Calli and Taiven performed on stage during THON, and Springfield was the highest earning Special Interest Organization!
THON 2020: Journey Together
Dancers: Emily Fisher, Avani Gandhi, Dana Carrato, Allie Ryave, Emma Frost, John Stedge, Hailey Atiyeh, Erin Bevilacqua*
Chairs: Katie Walters - Executive Chair; Lauren McNally - Family Relations; Alyssa Malerman - Family Relations; Greg Gavazzi - Donor and Alumni Relations; Sarah Hohman - Donor and Alumni Relations; Avani Gandhi - Communications; Emily Fisher - Alternative Fundraising; Mary Heath - Alternative Fundraising; Dana Carrato - Community; Allie Ryave - Special Events
Fundraising Total: $143,859.22
Milestones: Springfield had the highest per person fundraising total across all Special Interest Organizations, and Springfield co-founder Pat Seymour and his daughter visited Springfield in section 120 and on the floor during THON weekend!
THON 2021: Rise and Unify
Dancers: Kyle Davis, Josh Tumelty, Alyssa Malerman, Lauren McNally, Mary Heath, Maddie Travor, Alec Joshi
Chairs: Dana Carrato - Executive Chair; Caroline Fenerty - Family Relations Chair; Jake Wagner - Family Relations Chair; Mary Heath - Donor and Alumni Relations Chair; Maddie Travor - Donor and Alumni Relations; Emily Hontz - Communications Chair; Alec Joshi - Internal Alternative Fundraising Chair; Brianna Lumpkin - Alternative Fundraising Outreach Chair; John Stedge - Special Events Chair; Alyssa Malerman - Community Chair
Fundraising Total: $100,767.64
Milestones: Springfield participated in its first ever virtual THON, spreading the love FTK over Zoom and Livestreams! 6 of 7 dancers took on the 46 hours in an apartment, while one dancer danced alongside Taiven, as she was hosted for THON weekend by the Schopf family! Springfield also had the highest per person fundraising total across all Special Interest Organizations!
THON 2022: Spark Endless Light
Dancers: Rachel Sherman, Cam Burr, Jake Wagner, Angelina Giordino, and Eric Jaworski
Chairs: Alyssa Malerman- Executive Chair; Emily Hontz - Family Relations Chair; Emily Everlof - Family Relations Chair; Brianna Lumpkin - Donor and Alumni Relations Chair; Angelina Giordino - Donor and Alumni Relations; Emily Schultz - Communications Chair; Eric Jaworski - Internal Alternative Fundraising Chair; Rachel Sherman- Alternative Fundraising Outreach Chair; Caroline Fenerty - Community Chair; Alec Joshi-Community Chair
Fundraising Total: $79,445.01
Milestones: THON 2022 was back in the Bryce Jordan Center after being held virtually in 2021! Springfield was ranked in the top 5 for fundraising in the special interest organization category.
* Denotes a Springfielder who danced with another organization.