To say last year’s Mini-THON was anything other than incredible would be doing it a disservice. And this year, the student-led team behind Mini-THON is aiming even higher than the $70,956 raised in the 2024–25 school year, with a new goal of $71,000.
Kimberly Montone, a teacher at Neshaminy High School (NHS) who’s been involved with Mini-THON since its inception, described the event in one word: “community.”
“Mini-THON works to help kids with cancer through Four Diamonds,” Montone explained. “They provide services to families so they never see a bill during such a hard time. But it’s also about our own community, freshmen to seniors, students who take on leadership roles, and those who just want to do good things.”
Mini-THON is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a year-round operation, a culture, and for many students, a defining part of their high school experience.
Mini-THON isn’t a one-night event. As Montone put it, “As soon as one Mini-THON ends, the next begins.”
Planning kicks off in March, just weeks after the February event. Executive directors are selected, chairs are interviewed, and committees are formed. Students take control in organizing events like Kids’ Night Out, Mini-MiniTHON, and Dining for Dollars. Advisors like Montone and Stephanie Baniewicz, who is also a teacher at NHS, provide guidance, but the students lead the charge.
“Students plan everything,” Montone said. “We’re just here to advocate to [the] administration and offer advice. It’s [the students’] event.”
The February event itself is a six-hour celebration modeled after Penn State’s 46-hour THON. Students stay on their feet the entire time, a symbol of support for children undergoing cancer treatment.
“It’s a mix between a school dance, dodgeball tournament, elementary gym class, arts and crafts, and tailgate games,” Montone said. “There’s food, music, and at the end, we reveal our total for the year.”
That reveal is one of Montone’s favorite moments.
“The chairs and committee don’t know the total until that night,” Montone explained. “We combine the Donor Drive number with our bank account, and when we raise the numbers, it’s magic.”
One of the biggest shifts this year came in the form of Neshaminy November, formerly known as No-Shave November. The rebrand was more than just a name change; it enabled female teachers to participate, resulting in record-breaking totals.
“This year, the ‘no shave’ part was in no way mandatory,” Baniewicz explained. “All teachers, male and female alike, were invited to participate.”
Teachers put donation buckets on their desks with messages such as “Join Neshaminy Mini-THON and me in the fight against pediatric cancer.” Each bucket had a slot for cash and a QR code linking to Venmo for online donations. To increase motivation, Teachers who raised $200 or more earned the right to wear jeans every day in December, not just on Fridays, like usual.
The results were incredible. Neshaminy November 2025 raised $5,404.58, essentially doubling the previous year’s total of $2,786.46. The top fundraisers included Sarah Martoccio ($457.78), Len Davis ($456.09), and Madison Dierolf ($426.06). The data speaks volumes about the success and growth of fundraising for Mini-THON since 2020, when No-Shave November raised just $731.00
Total Mini-THON donations have followed a similar trajectory. From $26,049 raised in 2019-20, the total amount has increased by over 272%, reaching the aforementioned total of $70,956.
“We were seeing some growth, then the pandemic hit, and we had to start again,” Montone recalled. “But everything’s been on a positive trajectory since. More participation, more money.”
For Montone, Mini-THON is personal. She’s been fundraising for Four Diamonds for 20 years, dating back to her time in a Penn State sorority involved in THON.
“My favorite thing is seeing that passed on to students,” Montone said. “It’s like a little seed of philanthropy. They go off to college and get involved in charity work because they did Mini-THON in high school. That’s really cool. It means the impact goes on forever.”
One of the most important aspects of Mini-THON is its flexibility. Students don’t need to be on the committee to participate. Monthly meetings are open to all, and anyone can join the February event or contribute through fundraising.
“Just because you’re not on the committee doesn’t mean you’re not part of Mini-THON,” Montone emphasized. “You can be involved in any way you want. Even if you can’t attend the event, you can still fundraise and be part of our community.”
The new $71,000 goal is ambitious, but it is by no means impossible, especially with the successes in recent years. Student leadership is thriving, community support is growing, and the cause remains as urgent and inspiring as ever.
“Mini-THON is about doing good things,” Montone said. “It’s about community, compassion, and celebrating the hard work we’ve done together.”
Building off of and improving from the record-setting donations from last year, Neshaminy Mini-THON is determined to rally even more students, staff, and community members to make this year its most impactful one yet.
