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After one-year hiatus, Phi Theta Phi 100-mile walk from Thiel College to Pittsburgh returns

Posted November 30, 2021   Print
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GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Phi Theta Phi week began Monday in the Town of Greenville as the Thiel College fraternity raises funds in preparation to depart Greenville on Friday for its two-day, 100-mile walk to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Fraternity members, friends and alumni will collect donations during the walk for the Free Care Fund, which provides care to every child regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Collections have been ongoing and included stops at Pittsburgh’s light up night and the borough of Conneaut Lake on Monday. Donation collection will continue in Sharon, Mercer and Greenville this week. The organization’s walk was profiled recently by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Earlier this fall, Town of Greenville Mayor Evan Hereford gave Phi Theta Phi a mayoral proclamation and the organization was given a citation from Pennsylvania state Representative Mark Longietti to recognize their philanthropic work.

“This year’s 53rd annual Walk-a-thon is something special to the brothers and community of Phi Theta Phi. Because we were unable to walk our full way to Pittsburgh last year, we are coming out in full force to show The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities that Phi Theta Phi continues to change the landscape of philanthropy in western Pennsylvania,” Phi Theta Phi President John Ganiear ’22 said.

Last year, the walk was held on campus with the fraternity completing 100 miles around the Col. Charles “Bud” Manes ’58 Track at the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol Stamm ’71 Track & Field Complex. The walk starts in Greenville at 10 a.m. on Friday, proceeds through Mercer, Grove City, Slippery Rock and Butler and ends the day in Freeport at Trinity Lutheran Church. On Saturday, the walk continues through Natrona Heights, Breckenridge, New Kensington, Arnold, Springdale, Cheswick, Harmar Township, Oakmont, Lawrenceville before arriving at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Cash donations will be collected throughout the walk, but checks (made payable to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation) can be mailed to Phi Theta Phi Alumni Association, PO Box 365, Greenville, PA 16125.

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 fraternity was recognized for the walk-a-thon with a Service to Thiel Award. They were also recognized by the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital in 2019 for their contributions.

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