GREENVILLE, PA. Frat walk-a-thon aids kids' free-care fund

The walk-a-thon picked up about $17,000 over the two-day trek.
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- They didn't quite reach their goal, but the brothers of Phi Theta Phi fraternity at Thiel College have collected almost $42,000 this year for Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.
The Thiel College fraternity has raised more than $1 million for the hospital over 35 years of annual walk-a-thons on the first weekend in December.
This year's goal was $50,000. Nick Montanaro, 2001 walk chairman, said the campaign got off to a good start, collecting $25,000 in fund-raising efforts before Friday and Saturday's 100-mile trek to Pittsburgh.
A good chunk of that money was picked up at the Pittsburgh-Jacksonville football game in Pittsburgh Nov. 8. The Phi Theta Phi brothers have traditionally been allowed to collect at the Pittsburgh stadium during a November home game.
Between 40 and 50 brothers and friends made the hike to Pittsburgh last Friday and Saturday, arriving at Children's Hospital at 8 p.m. Saturday where they were treated to dinner and then handed out toys to patients.
Brought the toys: The walkers had carried the toys from Greenville and collected money from motorists and pedestrians along the way.
Montanaro said the total as of Sunday was $41,946 and some additional funds will come in as pledges are received.
Strong collection efforts for victims and their families of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a general slowdown in the economy were factors that probably prevented the walk from reaching its goal this year, he said.
The money collected goes into the hospital's Free Care Fund, which helps cover health care treatment costs for children not covered by insurance.