Thiel College fraternity to be featured on Pittsburgh TV for fundraising efforts

Posted December 9, 2020Communications and Marketing Department

GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College fraternity Phi Theta Phi will be featured on Pittsburgh’s CBS television affiliate KDKA on Thursday, Dec. 10 to discuss the $10,000 the organization raised for Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital with a COVID-adjusted version of their annual walk from Greenville to Pittsburgh.

Phi Theta Phi president John Ganniear ’22 announced the fraternity raised $10,216.45 during its collections and 100-mile walk at the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol (Yeager) Stamm ’71  Track & Field Complex on Nov. 13.

KDKA TV will broadcast a benefit show from 7–8 p.m. Thursday, December 10 on KDKA-TV. Coverage will also include brief segments during the KDKA evening news between 4 and 6:30 p.m. KDKA News Radio AM 1020 and 100.1 FM will broadcast the benefit show from 3 to 6 p.m.

Phi Theta Phi members and members of the College’s other seven fraternities and sororities joined together to walk 100 miles in just over 24 hours. Phi Theta Phi’s annual walk usually takes place in the first week of December. The members walk from Greenville to the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. This year that walk has been postponed until April due to COVID-19 restrictions. Rather than canceling the walk, the organization collected donations in-person around campus as well as online from friends of the College and alumni. Phi Theta Phi continues to accept donations on behalf of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation.

The fraternity has raised more than $1.8 million for the Hospital’s Free Care Fund since it began an annual 100-mile Walk-a-thon in 1968. In 2019, Phi Theta Phi received the “Leaps and Bounds” Award from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation after the 2018 Walk-a-thon raised $55,884.72. The total was the most a single walk raised in the event’s 50-year history.

Charitable service is an important part of the mission of each fraternity and sorority at Thiel College. Annually, Greek fundraising efforts donate thousands of dollars to charities such as the American Red Cross, Autism Speaks, the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, veterans, Adopt-A-Highway and many others.

About the Phi Theta Phi Walk-a-thon

Phi Theta Phi began at Thiel College as a local fraternity in 1966. Two years later, the fraternity started a tradition that has become one of the most successful Greek philanthropy efforts in the College’s history. The first Walk-a-thon was in 1968 and raised $1,100. In 2014, Phi Theta Phi was recognized as one of the Top 10 donors to the Fund. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate have cited the chapter for its service, and in 2002, the Association of Fundraising Professionals acknowledged them as an outstanding philanthropic organization. In 2015, the College recognized the fraternity with a Service to Thiel Award.

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About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.



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Greenville, PA 16125
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