The Second Annual Occupational Therapy (OT) Graduate Student Spring Fling for the Thomas Jerome House (TJH), a nonprofit organization serving troops with traumatic brain injuries, is slated for Friday, April 8, in The University of Scranton's DeNaples Center Ballroom.

This semi-formal event, which includes dinner with an open bar and dancing, is co-presented by The University of Scranton OT Graduate program and The University of Scranton Alumni Society and benefits the TJH organization. This year's event will also feature a silent auction and raffles of donated items.

TJH was created by Scranton OT alumnus Kristin Perilli after meeting and working with fellow Scranton alumnus CPT Thomas Jerome Hromisin, who was injured while serving in Iraq. TJH's mission is to provide housing and care for wounded veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

The idea for the OT Spring Fling fundraiser came following a guest lecture by Perilli and Hromisin to a graduate class in OT leadership. During the presentation, Kristin and T.J. discussed crossing paths at the National Naval Medical Center and the subsequent foundation of TJH.

Two students in the graduate class – Amy Flemming and Kellianne Murray – were so moved by Kristin's and T.J.'s story, they offered to organize a fundraiser to support TJH. They initiated the OT department's first formal dance to celebrate the attainment of their class' professional degrees and raise funds for the TJH. They invited their fellow graduate students in the physical therapy program to join in the festivities. As a result of this initiative, substantial funds were raised for the TJH, and more than 100 people attended the event held in T.J.'s honor. For pictures of this inaugural event, click here.

Due to the success of Spring Fling, Amy and Kellianne committed themselves to making the OT Graduate Student Spring Fling an annual fund-raising event for the TJH. They have partnered with Chrysanne Eichner, a 2011 OT graduate student, Dr. Rita Fleming-Castaldy, Assistant Professor in OT, and John Gownley of Alumni Services to plan this year's fundraiser which has been expanded to include current OT and PT students, OT alumni, and fellow alumni of TJ.

For more information regarding the Thomas Jerome House, as well as the upcoming Spring Fling, visit www.thomasjeromehouse.org.