Name: Liv Murphy-Costanzo

Major: Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Past THON Experience:

THON 2020: Rules & Regulations Fundraising Safety Committee Member

THON 2021: Rules & Regulations Fundraising Safety Captain (Independent Dancer Couple Fundraising Liaison)

THON 2022: Rules & Regulations Fundraising Safety Captain (Online Giving)

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

I have seven sisters! One of them is my twin, who happens to be the Communications Director this year!

What made you want to apply for a director position for THON 2023?

THON has always provided a home for me at Penn State. As a first-year student, I joined a committee without any knowledge of what to expect. What I ended up finding was a community of people who were all incredibly passionate about the same cause for a variety of reasons. As I continued on my THON journey through my experiences as a captain, I was greeted with such excitement to make this organization stronger each day. No matter how great the challenge, our student volunteers come together to find the perfect solution to ensure that our Four Diamond families get the support they need. I am endlessly inspired by every family and student volunteer, and I want to ensure that every member of the THON community gets to feel like THON is a home to them as well. The passion of each volunteer inspired me to want to do more for this organization and give back to the home I found here in THON.

What are your responsibilities as a THON Director?

As Fundraising Safety Director, my main responsibility is ensuring the integrity and safety of all of our volunteers’ fundraising efforts. Through administering the THON 2023 Rulebook, I work towards giving all student volunteers a safe and positive THON experience. I oversee a team of captains who specialize in ensuring all of our student organizations have access to the resources and materials they need to fundraise effectively. We also facilitate the use of DonorDrive, the sole online giving platform for our organization. When THON events such as the THON 5K powered by PNC, Family Carnival, and THON Weekend occur, we work alongside our Event Safety Committee to ensure the physical safety of all attendees.

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

This year, I am really excited to focus on data. Now that we have been using DonorDrive for multiple years, it is exciting to track trends to see what works and what doesn’t. We are also tracking our alternative fundraisers and using that data as well. This allows us to provide organizations — regardless of type or size — with all the resources and practices that they need to have the most successful fundraising practices.

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

The exciting thing about Fundraising Safety is that we get to work directly with all sides of the THON community. Whether we are working with organizations and student volunteers helping them fundraise, thanking donors for their support, or interacting with spectators and families at a THON event, we are still representing the values of the Fundraising Safety Committee. As we always say, have fun and be safe!

What are the overall goals you hope to reach with your committee for THON 2023?

My main goals for THON 2023 are to give all organizations an equal playing field for their fundraising practices, use and collect data for current and future success, and give all THON volunteers, but especially R&R Committee members, a home in the THON community.

Why do you THON?

I THON so that every family gets the opportunity to live a life full of love, support, and adventure.

What’s your favorite THON memory?

During my first THON Weekend as a first-year student, my fellow committee members and I were working a quiet shift in the early morning in the BJC. We were nearing the end of our shift and were getting tired and a bit antsy. Suddenly, our captain turned the corner on the way to her sleep shift. She was exhausted after working hard all weekend long, but came and took the time to hug each and every one of us and remind us that she was proud of us. This moment reminded me of the passion and dedication every single student volunteer has for this organization. To this day, that memory is my driving force in this organization to ensure that every member of the THON community feels valued and appreciated.

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

I would be a brontosaurus. I honestly have just always loved this dinosaur and I really never figured out why. Their scientific name also means “thunder lizard,” which I find hilarious.