Lynn Leadership Institute Partners With Post Incorporated To Host First Annual Knight-A-Thon
By David Czarlinsky
Copy Support & Staff Writer
Lynn will soon be hosting its first Dance Marathon, Knight-a-Thon: #GoingGold.
The all-night event will be taking place on April 20 in the deHoernle Sports and Cultural Center. Students, faculty and staff members will be dancing for 12-hours to raise money and awareness for the Pediatric Oncology Support Team (POST).
The vision of POST, Inc. is that no family walks their child’s cancer journey alone. POST professionals work with each child and their family to give them the emotional and financial support needed while they combat the disease. POST is run by an eight-member executive board made up of members from all areas and fields. In fact, some board members have been personally affected as well.
Anthony Alteri, vice president of student affairs is an active member on the board of POST, Inc.
“It is a blessing to serve on the board,” Alteri said. “After meeting many families dealing with cancer, it has given me a perspective on how fragile life really is.”
Lynn chose POST, Inc. because of the organization’s impact in the local community. The organization relies on fundraising and grants and assisting about 150 families every year with only four staff members.
Knight-a-Thon is being put together by the Lynn Leadership Institute (LLI), a program in its third year at Lynn. LLI students are working in different committees throughout the planning process by hosting fundraising events, registration events and planning every second of the 12-hour marathon.
Baylee Howe, senior, is leading the fundraising committee for Knight-a-Thon. She has helped plan three successful fundraising events thus far including nights out at Phenomenom, Chipotle and a Smoothie King give-away on campus.
“Heading this committee has been a great opportunity for me to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” said Howe. “I am so excited to see this event come to life and see how much we are able to give to POST, Inc. I am so honored to play a part in making these children’s days so much better.”
Alteri also discussed students in LLI and the important role they play at Lynn and in planning this event, “When looking at LLI in general, you are talking about a group of very talented leaders,” said Alteri. “That is why they are in this program.”
“I am so honored to be given the opportunity to help plan the first Knight-a-Thon,” said Katheryn Millian, senior. “It is a rewarding experience to know you are playing a role in helping a child with cancer have the time of their life.”
Overseeing the Lynn Leadership Institute and the event are three employees in the Student Affairs division, including Hannah Link and Stephanie Peguillan.
“Seeing children at the event is going to be most rewarding,” said Link, assistant director of Housing and Residence Life. “The impact it is going to have on these patients and their families is going to be beyond remarkable.”
For students interested in having a part in the event, there are three ways to get involved in Knight-a-Thon: create an account and raise money, participate or donate.
There are many ways students can get involved other than dancing.
“If students don’t want to dance, they are highly encouraged to create a fundraising page,” said Stephanie Peguillan, coordinator of student involvement. “We encourage all members of the Lynn community to raise $25 for POST, Inc.”
Individuals that raise $100 or more prior to the event will receive a free Knight-a-Thon t-shirt. The event will kickoff at 2 p.m. and students are encouraged to dance throughout the entirety of the event until 2 a.m. on April 21.
To be a part of this life-changing event, go to the direct link at www.lynn.edu/events/dance-marathon-20180420-200pm or visit lynn.edu and search “Knight-A-Thon.” For any questions or concerns, please email Hannah Link at hlink@lynn.edu or Stephanie Peguillan at speguillan@lynn.edu.
