The Sabrina Parraga Family
We are honored to have Sabrina and her family join us at Liberty Ball 2012!
Hello, my name is Sabrina Parraga. I am a two time cancer survivor! I am a teacher, a wife to Cristian, and mother of two precious children, Isabela and Octavio. I am truly blessed! Without the efforts of the 4 Diamonds Fund and money raised by Penn State THON students, I would likely not be alive today. Not only does the money raised help families pay bills that insurance does not cover, but it also pays for research and advancements in improving technology and treatment protocols for cancer patients with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in 1984. My parents were given the grim news of only a 30% chance of my survival. Through the diligence of my doctors and nurses at Hershey Medical Center |
Children’s Hospital I did survive, but unfortunately relapsed in 1989. This time around my treatment plan was improved, longer, and stronger due to the advancements in treatment. I struggled with losing my hair, needing to wear a back brace, countless chemotherapy injections and spinal taps, but I survived once again! I am now 32 years old. I have been cured and off chemotherapy for 19 years! My family is truly an example of miracles that come from hard work, dedication and love of so many good people.
Jay Paterno
We are also happy to announce this year's guest speaker, Jay Paterno.
Jay spent 17 years on the Penn State coaching staff. 2011 was his 12th as the quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator. In March of 2011 he was named the Big 10’s Best Quarterbacks Coach by Rivals.com. In 2008 ESPN.Com recognized he and Galen Hall as the year’s best Offensive Coordinators as well as being recognized nationally by several other sites.
In twelve seasons helping direct and design Penn State’s offense he has helped formulate some of the most exciting and prolific offenses in school history. In 2008 The Spread HD Offense led the team to a Big 10 Title and produced an offensive explosion that ranked among the best in Big 10 History. That balanced offensive attack ranked in the All-Time Top 10 in Big 10 conference history in yards, points and scoring average. The scoring average was the 4th best all-time in the conference in the last 90 years. Under Paterno’s direction the offense has posted the top four passing seasons in school history and seven of the top ten years ever at Penn State. The diversified attack has also resulted in six of the top ten seasons of total offense ever at the school.
Off the field Paterno has been active in a number of areas. He served on the Board of The National MS Society’s Central Pennsylvania Chapter for several years. He also chaired a fund-raising campaign for The Centre County Youth Services Bureau. In 2008 he worked on the Obama Presidential campaign as a surrogate speaker making appearances around the state of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 2010 he gave the opening speech for Vice-President Joe Biden at Penn State.
He’s been active speaking at Charity Fundraising events from coast to coast as well as to The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance—a Pennsylvania State-wide substance abuse prevention group. His appearances on behalf of Penn State University include speeches to Alumni groups as far west as Los Angeles all the way to Boston and include headlining a fund-raising event in New York City.
Born in 1968, Jay is the son of Sue and Joe Paterno. He is married to Kelley, his wife of nearly 20 years. They are the proud parents of five children and reside in State College, Pennsylvania.
Jay spent 17 years on the Penn State coaching staff. 2011 was his 12th as the quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator. In March of 2011 he was named the Big 10’s Best Quarterbacks Coach by Rivals.com. In 2008 ESPN.Com recognized he and Galen Hall as the year’s best Offensive Coordinators as well as being recognized nationally by several other sites.
In twelve seasons helping direct and design Penn State’s offense he has helped formulate some of the most exciting and prolific offenses in school history. In 2008 The Spread HD Offense led the team to a Big 10 Title and produced an offensive explosion that ranked among the best in Big 10 History. That balanced offensive attack ranked in the All-Time Top 10 in Big 10 conference history in yards, points and scoring average. The scoring average was the 4th best all-time in the conference in the last 90 years. Under Paterno’s direction the offense has posted the top four passing seasons in school history and seven of the top ten years ever at Penn State. The diversified attack has also resulted in six of the top ten seasons of total offense ever at the school.
Off the field Paterno has been active in a number of areas. He served on the Board of The National MS Society’s Central Pennsylvania Chapter for several years. He also chaired a fund-raising campaign for The Centre County Youth Services Bureau. In 2008 he worked on the Obama Presidential campaign as a surrogate speaker making appearances around the state of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 2010 he gave the opening speech for Vice-President Joe Biden at Penn State.
He’s been active speaking at Charity Fundraising events from coast to coast as well as to The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance—a Pennsylvania State-wide substance abuse prevention group. His appearances on behalf of Penn State University include speeches to Alumni groups as far west as Los Angeles all the way to Boston and include headlining a fund-raising event in New York City.
Born in 1968, Jay is the son of Sue and Joe Paterno. He is married to Kelley, his wife of nearly 20 years. They are the proud parents of five children and reside in State College, Pennsylvania.
Mike Missanelli - Master of Ceremonies
Mike Missanelli is a well-known media personality who currently hosts the “Mike Missanelli Show” on 950ESPN/97.5 FM The Fanatic, the number one rated sports talk show during evening drive.
Mike has had a long and varied career in the Philadelphia media. He graduated from Penn State University (where he played on the varsity baseball team) with a degree in journalism and spent 15 years as a newspaper reporter, 10 with the Philadelphia Inquirer, before branching off into positions in radio and television. At the Inquirer, Missanelli covered both sports and news and was a member of the Inquirer’s award winning coverage on such events as the MOVE controversy and the historic Live-Aid concert.
Missanelli spent 12 years as a radio talk show host at radio station 610-WIP a.m., where he co-hosted top rated evening drive and mid-day shows. During that time, he served as editor-in-chief of “The Fan“, a Philadelphia-oriented sports magazine. He also spent three years as the weeknight sports anchor on the WB-17 News at Ten in Philadelphia (where he won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award), then hosted a morning drive show on radio station 93.3 WMMR FM. Mike also spent two years as a talk show co-host on 1050 ESPN AM in New York City before coming to his current position at 950ESPN/97.5 The Fanatic. Currently, Missanelli is also the television co-host of the Phillies Post-Game Show on PHL-17.
Missanelli also is a 1986 graduate of Widener Law School and a member of the PA Bar. He attended law school while working full time at the Philadelphia Inquirer. To keep in touch with his legal roots, he currently teaches a popular class on Sports and Entertainment Law at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Mike is also a published author. His book, “The Perfect Season,” the story of Penn State’s last national football championship at the 1987 Fiesta Bowl when the Nittany Lions upset the heavily-favored Miami Hurricanes in the most watched college football game in television history, is currently available in bookstores throughout the area.
Mike has had a long and varied career in the Philadelphia media. He graduated from Penn State University (where he played on the varsity baseball team) with a degree in journalism and spent 15 years as a newspaper reporter, 10 with the Philadelphia Inquirer, before branching off into positions in radio and television. At the Inquirer, Missanelli covered both sports and news and was a member of the Inquirer’s award winning coverage on such events as the MOVE controversy and the historic Live-Aid concert.
Missanelli spent 12 years as a radio talk show host at radio station 610-WIP a.m., where he co-hosted top rated evening drive and mid-day shows. During that time, he served as editor-in-chief of “The Fan“, a Philadelphia-oriented sports magazine. He also spent three years as the weeknight sports anchor on the WB-17 News at Ten in Philadelphia (where he won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award), then hosted a morning drive show on radio station 93.3 WMMR FM. Mike also spent two years as a talk show co-host on 1050 ESPN AM in New York City before coming to his current position at 950ESPN/97.5 The Fanatic. Currently, Missanelli is also the television co-host of the Phillies Post-Game Show on PHL-17.
Missanelli also is a 1986 graduate of Widener Law School and a member of the PA Bar. He attended law school while working full time at the Philadelphia Inquirer. To keep in touch with his legal roots, he currently teaches a popular class on Sports and Entertainment Law at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Mike is also a published author. His book, “The Perfect Season,” the story of Penn State’s last national football championship at the 1987 Fiesta Bowl when the Nittany Lions upset the heavily-favored Miami Hurricanes in the most watched college football game in television history, is currently available in bookstores throughout the area.
