WPVI Philadelphia will produce and broadcast special Thon–50 Years for the Kids on Saturday, February 19 at 7 p.m. ET. The special is about Penn State’s student-run philanthropy event Thon. Starting in 1973, there has been an annual dance marathon at Penn State to raise money for children battling cancer. It has raised more than $190 million, which goes toward Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. 

Walter Perez, Alicia Vitarelli and Ducis Rodgers host the special. 

“Through our news coverage, we have shined a spotlight on Thon for more than 10 years, so it brings all of us immense joy to produce a televised celebration that showcases the extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of these student volunteers," said Bernie Prazenica, president and general manager of WPVI. "We hope this live broadcast will extend Thon’s message to a whole new audience of supporters.”

The dance marathon in State College starts February 18 and goes for 46 hours, with some 700 dancers on their feet for all of it. Viewers will watch during the 25th hour. 

The special will air on WPVI and its 24/7 streaming channel. It will be syndicated to other markets, including WABC New York and Pennsylvania stations WTAE Pittsburgh, WHTM Harrisburg, WNEP Scranton and WATM Altoona. 

“I am so thrilled to be working with Penn State Health and 6abc on this program highlighting the 50 years of Thon,” said Kate Colgan, executive director of Thon. “This organization and the work that it does is one of the most incredible things that I have ever experienced, and I am ecstatic to be able to share its story with so many.” ■

The Big Ten Conference has decided to postpone its fall sports program, including its college football schedule, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to published reports.

"The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren in a statement. “As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall."

The Big Ten's decision to postpone the college football season until at least Spring 2021 comes after a morning meeting with the conference’s presidents. The conference, which includes such schools as Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State, becomes the first of the "Power Five" conferences -- which also includes the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and Southeastern Conference (SEC) -- to postpone the 2020 college football season, striking a major blow to prospects for a college football season this fall. 

Other conferences that have decided to cancel fall sports play include The Mountain West, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Mid-American Conference.