Name: Tommy Radziminski

Committee: Donor & Alumni Relations – Development

Major: Finance and Economics

Past THON Experience:

As a freshman, I was on a Rules & Regulations Committee and the following year as a sophomore, I had the incredible experience of leading my own committee as a Rules & Regulations Event Safety Captain. As a junior, I became a Donor & Alumni Relations: Development Captain which motivated me to apply for the Director position that I hold now.

Name an interesting, weird, or quirky fact about yourself:

I can balance things on my nose.

What made you want to apply for the Development Director position for THON 2017?

There are a lot of things, but in particular, the dynamic growth that is possible through the work that the Development Committee completes throughout the year. As a growth focused committee, Development is able to capitalize on growing trends in philanthropy, including online donations, peer to peer giving platforms, and active benefitting and stewardship. With so much opportunity for change, the Development Committee allows for all of THON’s supporters to impact our organization in the most meaningful ways possible.

What are your responsibilities as the Development Director?

First and foremost, I aim to be a resource to the tremendously hardworking Development Committee. Without their efforts, THON’s solicitation, benefiting, and educational efforts would not allow organizations to fundraise effectively. Additional responsibilities include overseeing the THONvelope campaign, numerous donor interactions, and aiding in the education of all of THON’s organizations on safe and effective fundraising practices.

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

Fortunately, the Development Committee has been left in a advantageous position by previous years’ volunteers and student leaders. This year, the Development Committee looks to continue the concerted effort to benefit and retain existing donors, actively solicit new donors, and increase the resources that are available to student organizations fundraising on THON’s behalf. If there is one thing that I look forward to accomplishing, it is making all of THON’s volunteers as knowledgeable about effective forms of fundraising as the Development Committee aims to be.

What makes the Development committee so cool, fun, and/or important?

The opportunity to engage new supporters and donors who have never experienced THON before is something that truly makes the Development Committee so unique. Every interaction with an individual is the opportunity to capture a lifetime of support and awareness for our cause and mission. Whether it is speaking to a Dancer parent or an executive of a Fortune 500 company, seeing someone else’s eyes widen at the thought of contributing in a new and unique way to THON is something that makes Development’s efforts so worth while.

What are the overall goals you hope to reach with your committee for THON 2017?

I have three goals that I have aimed to achieve since last March: engage new donors through professional interactions, retain existing donors through excellent benefitting and stewardship, and providing the resources necessary for organizations to meet their own fundraising goals.

Why do you THON?

Like thousands of other impassioned student volunteers at Penn State, I THON for the children and families who fight so bravely to overcome such a hideous disease. The perspective that THON provides students like myself is unlike any other, and seeing the difference that one person’s effort can have on the life of a child is something that makes every volunteer give their all to this organization.

What’s your favorite THON memory?

Line control sophomore year as a Rule & Regulations Captain. Standing in front of a mass of student volunteers waiting to get into the BJC for THON Weekend and feeling their tangible excitement for the moment is something that I will never forget. It was raw passion in the purest of forms.

Per Onward State tradition, if you could be any dinosaur, which one would you be and why?

Velociraptor, great as a team, wouldn’t want to mess with them.