About Us

Who We Are

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 percent of all medical expenses related to cancer care not covered by insurance for eligible Four Diamonds children. Because of the community’s steady and generous support, Four Diamonds has assisted 100 percent of the childhood cancer patients who have been treated at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

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 Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, seeking improved treatments and cures to benefit kids around the world.

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital was again recognized as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation for childhood cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 rankings.

U.S. News

Meet our Four Diamonds families and join the fight to conquer childhood cancer.

Our History

1969

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.

1972

Four Diamonds Is Founded

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.

1977

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 IFC/Panhellenic 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 $218 million in the fight to conquer childhood cancer. In 2022, THON celebrated 50 years.

Today

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 tens of thousands of students through philanthropy.

OUR FOUR DIAMONDS FAMILIES

Each year, more than 16,000 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

Four Diamonds child Lesenia

New Freedom, PA, Forever 8 Y.O.

Lesenia was just five years old when she was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL). In her short lifetime, she taught all that knew her acceptance, love and joy.

Four Diamonds child Summer

Hanover, PA, 4 Y.O.

Before Summer turned three years old, she came down with a fever that lead to her diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but cancer cannot slow her down. Like any kid, she is inquisitive and energetic.

Four Diamonds child Elliot

Marietta, PA, 14 Y.O.

When Elliot was eight years old, what started as leg pain one day was diagnosed as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL) the next. Despite surgeries, chemotherapy, failed treatments, immunotherapy, relapses, a transplant and daily doses of medicine over just three years, Elliot maintained positivity and perseverance.

Four Diamonds child Weston

Carlisle, PA, 7 Y.O.

In 2016, two-year-old Weston was diagnosed with a type of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Throughout his treatment, while his little body was tested, he continued to radiate joy.

Donations At Work

Four Diamonds Financials

Impact Report And Other Financials

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 Reports

Your Donations At Work

Four 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 Involved

100%

Of 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.

RELATIONSHIP TO PENN STATE AND OTHER BRANDS 

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.

What Sets Our Organization Apart

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:

  • The cancer patient and their family must be residents of Pennsylvania.
  • The cancer patient must be 22 years old or younger.
  • The cancer patient must be receiving their cancer treatment at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

Our childhood cancer charity will also offer some exceptions, such as when one of our patients requires additional care at another hospital.

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

We are dedicated to, and accountable for, advancing equity and inclusion in all of its forms. We decry discrimination (personal and systemic) based on age, color, race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy and religion.

We echo Penn State’s commitment to disrupting hate and bias whenever and wherever we encounter it, and to creating the most inclusive community that we possibly can – one that is free of bigotry and respects all people equally. We pledge to be actively anti-discriminatory.

On our team, we commit to increasing the representation of those who reflect our nation’s demographics yet are underrepresented in our workforce: Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ people, individuals with disabilities, and those who have military experience. We remain committed to serving our alumni and donors from all backgrounds.

When we say “WE ARE,” we affirm that we’re stronger together and that prejudice has no place if we are to fulfill our mission of pursuing education, research and service for the common good.

OUR PENN STATE RITE VALUES

Respect
  • Listen, hear and give credit
  • Embrace our diverse backgrounds, talents and perspectives
  • Be compassionate, thoughtful, considerate and kind
Integrity
  • Be the best you can be, every time
  • Have moral courage to ask hard questions of ourselves and others
  • Be consistent and fair
Teamwork
  • Commit to working together to ensure the best experience for co-workers, patients and trainees
  • Share knowledge for the benefit of the team
  • Earn the trust of your teammates
Excellence
  • Align personal performance with our mission, vision, values and strategic imperatives
  • Set personal goals and exceed expectations
  • Always be solution-focused

Resources

FOUR DIAMONDS ADVISORY BOARD

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.

PAM TURNER
STATE COLLEGE, PA
CHAIR
CHRISTY PIERCE
HUMMELSTOWN, PA
 VICE-CHAIR
IRMA MILLARD
PORT TOWNSEND, WA
CO-FOUNDER
PHILIP BRENCKLE
HUMMELSTOWN, PA
CHRISTOPHER COCORES
MECHANICSBURG, PA
JASON HEATH
HERSHEY, PA
RICK JORDAN III
CAMP HILL, PA
JUSTIN KUNKEL
YORK, PA
MEG KUTZ
HUMMELSTOWN, PA
ED MARSICO
HARRISBURG, PA
LISA MCGREGOR, M.D., PH.D.
HERSHEY, PA
STACIA MILLARD BIRD
CAMAS, WA
MARCIA PERRY DIX
HUMMELSTOWN, PA
LILY PEVOTO
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA
STAN SULLIVAN  HUMMELSTOWN, PA
YATIN VYAS, M.D. 
HERSHEY, PA
NADINE WAXENBERG
RYE, NY

FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS WITH VOTE

YATIN VYAS, M.D.
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
LISA MCGREGOR, M.D., PH.D.
Interim Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Professor of Pediatrics
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine

THE EXTERNAL SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

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