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‘Pay 4 Play’ on WQXA 105.7 The X raises $310,095 for Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

The 15th annual People’s Pay 4 Play on 105.7 the X on Nov. 4 and 5 raised $310,095 for Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. That brings the event’s 15-year fundraising tally to more than $2.5 million.

Jen Shade and Nipsey from The People’s Morning Show hosted the 28-hour event. Listeners made a gift to hear a song request. Fundraising partners presented totals for funds raised over the last year, and patients and families shared their medical journey including the Smith family from Palmyra.

“Ten years ago our lives were changed when our son Blake had a stroke. [He] took a flight in Life Lion, and now a decade later he has grown into a fun loving

A photo of Blake Smith as a young child alongside a photo of Blake sitting on a sofa between his mother and father.

Blake Smith – then and now.

teen! We are so grateful for all of the people who helped him recover,” said Lisa Smith, Blake’s mom.

“We are simply in awe of how much this event has grown in 15 years. The first Pay 4 Play raised $43,000, a tremendous total, but the way this community shows up in every way to help this event grow is incredibly inspiring,” said Danielle Sunday, executive director of health system development at Penn State Health. “Thank you to the dedicated team at 105.7 the X and their listeners for funding programs, equipment and research at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Together, we give kids the gift of growing up.”

Sponsors of the event include Highmark, The GIANT Company, TE Connectivity, Menasha, JPL, Schaedler Yesco, Karns Quality Foods, Universal Media-Analytics, Vizo Financial, Betty Butler and Members 1st Federal Credit Union. Learn more at CMNHershey.org

About Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a nonprofit organization that has affiliations with 170 children’s hospitals including Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Gifts raised locally through Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) fund equipment, patient programs, and pediatric research at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, which is the only children’s hospital between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia fully equipped to treat the most severely ill children of central Pennsylvania. CMN’s mission to save kids’ lives and improve their quality of care is part of “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a fundraising campaign focused on three key imperatives: Open Doors, Create Transformative Experiences and Impact the World. Learn more at greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

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