The Four Diamonds mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.
Four Diamonds covers 100% of all medical expenses related to cancer care not covered by insurance for eligible Four Diamonds children. Thanks to the steady and generous support of our community, Four Diamonds has assisted 100% of the childhood cancer patients treated at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
Since 1972, Four Diamonds has helped more than 4,800 children and their families and has supported a robust platform of childhood cancer research to improve treatments and drive new discoveries—bringing hope to families across Pennsylvania and around the world. This work is carried out in partnership with Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine.
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital was once again recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024–25 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. The hospital was named one of the top 35 in the nation for pediatric cancer care—marking the 14th consecutive year the hospital has been nationally ranked for pediatric cancer care and its dedication to children’s health.
Meet our Four Diamonds families and join the fight to conquer childhood cancer!
Christopher Millard was 11 years old when he was first diagnosed with cancer. Shortly before he lost his three-year battle with cancer, he wrote a story about a great knight who sought out the four diamonds of courage, wisdom, honesty and strength, in order to be released from the grips of an evil sorceress. These diamonds symbolized the attributes that Christopher’s family believed were necessary to overcome cancer.
In honor of their son, Christopher’s parents, Charles and Irma Millard, founded Four Diamonds to assist children and their families in the fight against childhood cancer. Through Four Diamonds, Chris Millard and his legendary story live on and serve as an inspiration for children and their families fighting cancer.
Four Diamonds and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center entered into a charter with the mission of conquering childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.
Four Diamonds and the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON™) united For The Kids® when THON named Four Diamonds the sole beneficiary of all fundraising activities.
To date, THON has raised more than $236 million in the fight to conquer childhood cancer. In 2022, THON celebrated 50 years.
Four Diamonds continues to inspire, empower and activate youth and young adults in the fight to conquer childhood cancer. Since its creation in 1972, Four Diamonds has helped more than 4,800 children and families and supported a diverse platform of childhood cancer research at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, seeking improved treatments and cures to benefit kids around the world. Learn how we’re inspiring 90,000 students through philanthropy.
Each year, approximately 15,000 families in the United States hear “your child has cancer.” Hundreds of those families turn to Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, a nationally recognized leader in pediatric cancer care, to provide world-class treatment for their children.
Four Diamonds also makes it possible for all of these children to receive the exceptional care they need regardless of the cost. Meet some of our incredible Four Diamonds families and hear their stories below, or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.
To learn more about the Four Diamonds kids and their families hover over an image or press the
All of our work is FTK® – For The Kids®. Four Diamonds is committed to improving the health and lives of children fighting cancer today, and those who will fight in the future.
Click to View The Following ReportsFour Diamonds is fiscally strong, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of individual donors, community events, Mini-THON® and THON™. Four Diamonds has been able to assist 100% of the childhood cancer patients who have been treated at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
Get InvolvedOf all medical expenses related to cancer care not covered by insurance for eligible Four Diamonds children at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital are covered, ensuring families never see a bill.
In 1963, The M.S. Hershey Foundation donated $50 million to The Pennsylvania State University to establish a medical school in Hershey. With this grant and $21.3 million from the U.S. Public Health Service, the University built a medical school, research center and teaching hospital—Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The University broke ground in 1966, and Penn State College of Medicine opened its doors to students in 1967. Penn State Hershey Medical Center accepted its first patients in 1970.
Since then, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Children’s Hospital are committed to enhancing the quality of life through improved health, the professional preparation of those who will serve the health needs of others and the discovery of knowledge that will benefit all.
Four Diamonds is an integral part of the delivery of this mission, providing financial support to ensure superior care and comprehensive support to childhood cancer patients and their families, and funding innovative research to learn how childhood cancer forms, how it can be treated and how treatments can be more effective to benefit those around the world. Additionally, Four Diamonds’ commitment to youth leadership and philanthropy through Mini-THON® and THON™ are building future leaders, scientists, medical professionals and philanthropists committed to one common goal: conquering childhood cancer. The THON 2022 Impact Report discusses the difference THON has made on a personal and global scale for our families through emotional support and funding innovative research.
Four Diamonds is committed to covering 100% of our families’ out-of-pocket medical expenses, ensuring all families receive the financial support they need. Our organization for childhood cancer ensures high-quality care, including specialty care providers and lab-based and clinical trials to increase the chances of a cure.
To qualify:
Our childhood cancer charity will also offer some exceptions, such as when one of our patients requires additional care at another hospital.
We are dedicated to, and accountable for, accepting all people. We decry discrimination (personal and systemic) and we echo Penn State University’s commitment to disrupting hate whenever and wherever we encounter it, and to creating the most welcoming community that we possibly can – one that respects all people. We are committed to serving our patients, staff, alumni and donors from all backgrounds.
When we say “WE ARE,” we affirm that we’re stronger as we fulfill our mission of pursuing education, research and service for the common good.
Executive Director
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Director of Fundraising
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Advancement & Giving Specialist
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Associate Director, Mini-THON®
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Director of Marketing & Digital Fundraising Strategy
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Mini-THON® Manager
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Development Assistant
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Advancement & Giving Specialist
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Associate Director, Mini-THON®
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Associate Director, Mini-THON®
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Administrative Support Assistant
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Associate Director, Digital Fundraising
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Associate Director of Community Fundraising
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Stewardship Officer
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Respect
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Integrity
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Teamwork
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Excellence
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Four Diamonds engages members of the community to provide support and advice.
Members of our Advisory Board are committed to advancing our mission to conquer childhood cancer.
CHRISTY PIERCE
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GWYN SMITH
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IRMA MILLARD
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STAN SULLIVAN HUMMELSTOWN, PA |
CHRISTOPHER COCORES
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MARK FACCENDA
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JASON HEATH
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RICK JORDAN III
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ANTHONY MATTER
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MATT PATTERSON PORT MATILDA, PA |
ED MARSICO
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NADINE WAXENBERG
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STACIA MILLARD BIRD
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ELIZABETH MOYER
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BEN ROITMAN
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MARCIA PERRY DIX
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HEIDI BOWIE
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| SARAH IRIANA, M.D. |
Interim Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital |
| GISELLE SHOLLER, M.D. |
Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine |
| LESLIE PARENT, M.D. |
Associate Vice President for Health Sciences Research
Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, College of Medicine Professor of Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine |
The External Scientific Advisory Board provides peer review for our cancer research.
| KATHLEEN M. SAKAMOTO, M.D., PH.D. | Professor and Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology Department of Pediatrics Stanford University School of Medicine Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford |
Stanford University School of Medicine CCSR 1215C 269 Campus Drive Stanford, CA 94305-5162 |
| SETH COREY, M.D., M.P.H. | Sharon Murphy-Steven Rosen Professor of Cancer Biology and Chemotherapy Director, Pediatric Drug Development Center Director, Bone Marrow Failure and Myelodysplastic Clinic Co-director, Pediatric Hematology/oncology/stem Cell Transplant Fellowship Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center Departments of Pediatrics and Cell & Molecular Biology |
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Lurie 5-107 303 E. Superior Street Chicago, IL 60611 |
