Penn State students and community members work tirelessly to enhance the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer through THON. But Penn State’s local connection with pediatric cancer runs even deeper through an initiative called the Jared Box Project.
The Jared Box Project was started locally in 2001 in memory and honor of Jared McMullen, a 5-year-old boy who was diagnosed with an incurable brainstem tumor in 1999.
“Jared always took a backpack filled with toys [to the hospital],” Jared Box Project Executive Director Cindy Kolarik said. “Jared actually noticed other kids that looked bored or sad or lonely, and he shared his toys with them. That always stuck in the back of my mind. Even though he was going through all that, he was able to look around and care for others.”