Penn State Abington has a long tradition of giving back to our surrounding community.
Some of our traditions include:
Discover Service Week
In both semesters of the academic year the Office of Student Life provides a week of reflection, service, and awareness of the needs in our community. We hope that these weeks will continue to encourage our campus community to give back to others as well as to become aware of the service our office provides. Student Organizations and Community Engagement come together to provide programs on topics such as kindness to a program that allows the campus community a chance to make sandwiches for the homeless ( make a sandwich make a difference) . We hope that these weeks will continue to provide an outlet for those in our community who struggle with integrating service into their lives by providing on campus opportunities.
Abington Cares Days
Abington Cares Days (ABC days) are days where the Abington community goes out to our surrounding community and offers service. They are sponsored by the Community Outreach Workers and are usually held on a weekend once or twice a month throughout the academic year. COW assists a variety of community agencies from the Jenkintown community alliance to the Jewish Relief society.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a very special day on our campus. Since the campus is closed we hope that our campus community uses it as a day on and gives back to the local community in Dr. King’s memory. The Office of Student Life, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and our student organizations combine to provide volunteer opportunities on and off campus.
THON Dance Marathon
The PSU Dance Marathon, aka THON, is the largest student-run philanthropy in the WORLD. It is a year-long event that fundraises for the Four Diamonds Fund out of Hershey Medical Center. Fundraising is through canning, by-mail donations and online via THON.org. This account covers all of the medical and living expenses of the Four Diamonds Families, who unfortunately have children with cancer. We, as PSU students, literally impact these families’ lives on the largest of scales. THON culminates every year during the dance marathon, which is a 46 hour, no sitting, no sleeping dace marathon in which an average of 700 PSU students dance to continue to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund.
Special Athletes
Special Athletes is a basketball tournament that is sponsored by the Lion Ambassadors in the Spring semester. Our students combine with a local agency to provide a great day of fun for about 80 athletes and their families. It is a very meaningful day for all that is involved.