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JonaTHONs

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Get Involved

JonaTHONs

 

Each year, HuskyTHON inspires UConn students to get up and dance. They dance for the laughter, for the tears, for the memories, for the miracles, and for the kids. And while they dance, they raise hundreds of thousands of dollars every year for Connecticut Children’s. But what if it wasn’t just UConn students dancing?

 

We are excited to bring HuskyTHON to schools all over the state through our JonaTHONs program. Our committee of dedicated students will work directly with schools to bring awareness to HuskyTHON and Connecticut Children’s and help them plan their own fundraisers or even mini-marathons! High school, middle school and even elementary school students, with the help of their teachers and advisors, get to plan their events from start to finish while learning valuable lessons and having tons of fun along the way!

 

 

We hope that you’ll take the time to look at everything JonaTHONs have to offer and consider joining the program! This is more than just a way to raise money or to make HuskyTHON a household name. It’s a way to bring a fun and exciting event to your schools and build school spirit. It’s motivation for your students to be a part of something big and to give them perspective of the world around them. Most importantly, it’s kids helping kids to make the world a better place. And there is something truly special about that.

 

 

 Participating Schools

South Windsor High School

South Windsor For The Local Kids Kids has been involved since 2014 when it was Nicki Cartier’s, former Connecticut Children’s patient and Management team member, senior project. Through fundraisers such as canning at sports games, a volleyball tournament, and a mini marathon, South Windsor raised $10,114 in 2023!

Pleasant Valley Elementary School

Pleasant Valley Elementary School's fifth grade student council plans a spirit week every year, which raised $358 in 2023!

Tolland High School

Tolland High School faculty and staff held Dress Down Days weekly throughout the school year, and in 2023 they donated funds from their Dress Down Days to HuskyTHON!

Orchard Hill Elementary School

In 2023, Orchard Hill Elementary School held their second-annual HuskyTHON Kindness Week, raising just over $1,400!

Davenport Ridge Elementary School

Davenport Ridge Elementary School's RocketTHON made cards for kids and hosted a glow-in-the-dark Zumba event, raising $1,989 in 2023!

Cheshire High School

In 2023, Cheshire High School held various fundraisers throughout the month of February, raising $477!

Winthrop Elementary School

Winthrop Elementary School held their first ever JonaTHONs in 2023, including a Valentine's Day Fundraiser and Character Day, where students could dress up as their favorite fictional character. They raised $463!

Scotts Ridge Middle School

Scotts Ridge Middle School held a Valentine's Day Pencilgrams fundraiser and Penny Wars fundraiser in 2023.

Farmington High School

Farmington has been involved since HuskyTHON 2016 and has raised over $15,000 since then! Their event includes a dodgeball tournament, volleyball games, and trivia!

Canton Middle School

Canton Middle School held their first JonaTHON in 2023, raising a total of $831 through a Penny Wars fundraiser, canning, and a Pie-a-Teacher fundraiser.

Oshana Elementary School

Oshana Elementary School's Fox-a-THON was the first ever JonaTHONs event. Each year, their fourth and fifth grade students join forces to continue to make a difference in the lives of children who need it most, culminating in a mini dance marathon.

-Frequently Asked Questions-

What is HuskyTHON?

HuskyTHON is a year-long philanthropic effort at the University of Connecticut to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children's, a Children's Miracle Network Hospital. This effort culminates in an 18-hour dance marathon in the Spring, where thousands of UConn students come together to dance for those who can't. HuskyTHON is entirely student-run and our Management Team of 31 undergraduate student leaders is working tirelessly to make HuskyTHON 2024 better than ever before.

 

HuskyTHON is one of the top 10 dance marathons in the country and is the largest Children's Miracle Network Dance Marathon in the Northeast. In the last 24 years, HuskyTHON has raised over $10 million for Connecticut Children's, making it the largest fundraiser for the hospital. HuskyTHON 2023 raised $1,480,255.77 and we hope that 2024 will be even more successful.

What is the JonaTHONs program?
The JonaTHONs Program was created for HuskyTHON 2015 to involve schools all over Connecticut in our efforts to raise both funds and awareness for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center! Our JonaTHONs committee works with students to plan and host events or fundraisers at their schools, ranging from $1 Pajama Days to their very own mini-marathons!
How does it work?
Just contact our Co-Directors of JonaTHONs to get started! There are no fees or requirements to be a part of the program - all you need is some excited and motivated students, an advisor, and permission from the school! If you have your own idea for an event or need ideas for something that will work for your school, our committee will be there to help every step of the way to make it happen.
I don't know if we can participate for 2024, but what if I'm interested for next year?
No problem! Feel free to contact us anyway for more information on how to get started and we can start working with you now to help set up something in the future. HuskyTHON is a year-long fundraiser, so we're always looking ahead!
Are there any restrictions on schools that can participate?
As long as you are in the Connecticut Children’s region, there are no restrictions! We are happy to work with any school that expresses interest in the program. Whether we are working with elementary schools, middle schools, or high schools, we will find an event that is appropriate for your students. As long as there is a teacher or faculty member willing to serve as the advisor and the school has given permission for us to work with you, we'll be there every step of the way!
What kind of resources do you offer?
We have many resources from Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, from fundraising ideas to workbooks for planning mini marathons. We also have dozens of dedicated UConn students who have a vast range of experiences in event planning, fundraising, recruitment, and communications who will be working with schools to plan the best events possible!
What is a mini-marathon?
If your school is interested in planning a mini marathon, our Co-Directors of JonaTHONs will work closely with students and faculty alike to help get your event started. The structure and details for a mini marathon may vary greatly from school to school, but HuskyTHON will work to help create the event that works best for you and your students.
Why should our school participate in the JonaTHONs program?
Our program is a great way for your students to get involved with a cause that they may feel passionately about. Many of your students may have friends or siblings that have been to Connecticut Children's, and may even have been patients there themselves. Working with our JonaTHONs program is a great way to give back and to raise awareness for the children who rely on fundraisers like HuskyTHON. It is also a great way for your students to gain valuable experience outside of the classroom and have a ton of fun planning a great event!

To show our thanks, your school will be featured on our website for all our visitors to see. Your students will also be invited to HuskyTHON to present their check in front of thousands of UConn students!

If you are interested in getting your school involved with JonaTHONs, have any questions, or would like more information, please contact our Co-Directors of JonaTHONs.

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