Penn State basketball coach Patrick Chambers addressed the THON gathering and presented his donation check of $14,200 just prior to Friday evening's kick off for the event.
Chambers pledged to donate $10 dollars for every Penn State student that attended Thursday's game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. While the Nittany Lions lost the contest 74-72, the turnout for the game was high and Chambers will now pledge more than $14,000 toward the student-run philanthropy.
"My wife, Courtney, and I talked at length about it and we wanted to make a powerful statement," Chambers said. "THON has just blown me away, its a phenomenal event. We are very fortunate to have three young children and they are all healthy, so I'm very lucky. That is where it started for us."
Chambers made the announcement with his check prior to leaving with his team to travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a match-up with No. 4 Michigan on Sunday.
Chambers also shaved his head in support of the No Hair. Don't Care. campaign that has continued to raise funds for THON.
"The students were great, the fans were great,” Chambers said. “That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard that place. It definitely helped out the atmosphere, which was great."
"We wanted to donate and start this weekend off with a bang," Chambers said to the excited crowd of dancers and supporters.
