Happy New Year’s Eve, Penn State. We’re deep in the heart of winter break, but that hasn’t broken our focus on the roaring momentum of THON 2016. Before break, we had a conversation with Payton Burke of R&R Event Safety. For our final feature of 2015, we talked with Molly Twohig, Burke’s partner in crime and THON 2016’s Volunteer Safety Director for Rules and Regulations.

Molly Twohig, Rules & Regulations, Volunteer Safety

Year: Senior

Major: Marketing

Past THON Experience: R&R Committee Member, two-year R&R Captain, Delta Sigma Pi benefiting THON

Name an interesting, weird, and/or funny fact about you: I once fell down multiple flights of stairs inside the Eiffel Tower.

Onward State: What made you want to apply for the R&R Volunteer Safety Director position?

Molly Twohig: I applied for Director because I felt that I had given 100 percent effort and had such a wonderful experience the previous two years as a Captain. Being involved in THON helped me find my place within the university and fall even more in love with all that Penn State has to offer. My passion for THON grew more and more each year as I spent time with my co-­Captains and Committee Members, and I wanted to be able to provide others with the same amazing experiences. I began thinking of lots of ideas to better Rules & Regulations and THON as a whole, and I knew that I wanted to see those ideas carried out to put THON in a better place for this year, next year, and even five years down the road.

OS: What are your responsibilities as the Volunteer Safety Director within R&R?

MT: As the Volunteer Safety Director, my role is to be a resource for all of THON’s supporters in their fundraising efforts and to make sure volunteers are abiding by the rulebook in all aspects of fundraising and solicitation. Over the summer, I write the THON 2016 Rulebook with input and collaboration from the entire Executive Committee and plan for the upcoming Fundraising Window in our canning, canvassing, and alternative fundraising efforts. My Captains and I facilitate THON’s fundraising efforts by approving alternative fundraisers, distributing materials for Fundraising Outreach & Canning Weekends, enforcing THON’s rules through violation meetings, and much more.

OS: What do you want to implement in your position this year that’s unique and differs from years past?

MT: This year, it is my plan to implement many more safety measures in our Rulebook and in our fundraising practices to keep the safety of our volunteers at the forefront of our decisions.

OS: What do you think makes Volunteer Safety so cool, fun, and/or important?

MT: Volunteer Safety represents the integrity of THON which is a very exciting and important aspect of THON’s Committee structure and resources. The most fun thing about Rules & Regulations is that it is the largest committee within THON which creates such a welcoming community for Committee Members and Captains to be involved with.

OS: What are the overall goals you wish to reach within your position and committee for THON 2016?

MT: My personal goal for THON 2016 is to continue making strides for more safe and effective fundraising, to provide an awesome experience for all Rules & Regulations Committee Members, and to enjoy every second along the way.

OS: So Molly, why do you THON?

MT: I’ve always been passionate about THON as a way to honor my friend, Abbey, who lost her battle with pediatric cancer when we were in the seventh grade. She has been my motivation for all that I do. Now, I love spending time with my organization’s Four Diamonds families, and I am committed to creating a better life for all families battling childhood cancer.

OS: Can you tell us about your favorite THON memory?

MT: My favorite THON memory was spending the day doing arts and crafts with children at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. It was a humbling and incredible opportunity to spend time with the children we support through all of THON’s activities.

OS: Finally, an Onward State tradition. If you could be any dinosaur, which one would you be and why?

MT: I would be an apatosaurus because they were herbivores and I feel like they had generally nice, kind-hearted personalities during the Jurassic period. However, all of my dinosaur education comes from The Land Before Time, so I could be mistaken.