Name: Benjamin Roitman

Major: Education and Public Policy

Previous THON Experience:

THON 2022: Rules & Regulations committee member
THON 2023: Dancer Relations committee member
THON 2024: Supply Logistics captain inventory liaison

What made you want to apply for a director position for THON 2025?

I wanted to be a director primarily to be able to work more closely with the 15 other committees and Four Diamonds. THON as an organization has given me so much and I wanted to maximize the effort I give to furthering our mission and serving our families. Being a director also allows me the opportunity to watch my 21 captains grow into their positions and help to innovate our committee’s functions. It has been the joy of my Penn State experience to meet and create bonds with the families THON serves.

What are your responsibilities as a THON Director?

My primary responsibility is to oversee the Supply Logistics (SL) committee as we seek out in-kind donations, manage relationships with donors, and store and distribute supplies that are used year after year. I also oversee the planning and execution of several initiatives like the THON raffle, the gift card initiative, the towel drive, the garage sale, and the Hershey holiday toy drive.

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

One of the largest areas I wanted to see improvement in was the way we intake and analyze data. To see this out, I added a new captain position solely dedicated to data analysis and serving as a consultant to the inventory and donor contacting teams to provide suggestions on how data collection could be improved.

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

The primary goal of supply logistics is to ensure that THON’s internal costs are as low as possible to help maintain our extraordinary fundraising efficiency of around 96%. This means that we are contributing as much as possible to treatments and research that will push us closer to a cure for childhood cancer.

Another effect that SL has is the ability to provide the stuff of magic and memories. We play a direct hand in what is at all THON events and ultimately shape what stories volunteers, supporters, and most importantly families write with our organization. Though people will not see a lot of the work that we do, it is incredible to see people make the magic of THON with supplies that we distribute.

What are the overall goals you hope to reach with your committee for THON 2025?

This year is really key in setting the roots of data analysis on SL. I want us to take a critical look at our practices and find areas where we can improve in terms of efficiency or data collection. I want us to utilize these insights to think about how we can operate in a more sustainable and impactful manner.

This year is also the first year that we have had SL members! I want to ensure that they are being given a good introduction to THON and SL. It is so exciting to have an opportunity to grow our SLime Green family.

Why do you THON?

I THON so that families can focus primarily on being a family. Childhood is such a beautiful and joyful experience. It is an honor to have an opportunity to provide a space where families and volunteers can dream beyond cancer. We build a home where kids can be kids and simultaneously provide funds that will one day end this disease. With a mission so powerful and pure it is hard to not pour as much energy as possible into this organization.

What’s your favorite THON memory?

Seeing superhero stretches from THON 2024 was a moment I will always treasure. Watching kids make memories and feel like superheroes utilizing supplies I had distributed really helped me understand the true impact of this organization and my committee’s position in the work we do.

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

Ankylosaurus — the club tail is super cool, and I think it would be very useful!