College students across the nation volunteer through the Up ‘til Dawn program every year to assist in raising money, through a variety of activities for the children and their families attending St. Jude.
Kaylen Hill, the event and logistics director for Up ‘til Dawn at the University of Memphis, said Memphis raised almost $52,000 last year, and the goal for this year is to raise more than that.
“It’s an easy way for students to be philanthropic because all they have to do is register, share their link on social media, show up to some of our percentage nights or our events like Letter Sending Party and that’s it,” Hill said.
The Letter Sending Party is an event the campus hosts for the Up ‘til Dawn program every year. At this event, students who are looking to participate in Up ‘til Dawn can be registered, and for those who are already part of the program, they can send out letters to their friends and families to ask for help in assisting the students in reaching their fundraising goals.
Hill said students who get involved can receive 10 service hours for every $100 raised on their fundraising pages.
“There is a multitude of opportunities of how to get involved … regular participants, just regular college students, can raise $100 and come to finale, and there is also morale captains, which help at our events and executive board … like planning the events,” Hill said.
Up ‘til Dawn is an event organized by St. Jude to help raise money for children who are currently in need of treatment at St. Jude. St. Jude has partnered with more than 250 schools across the country and have been a partner with the U of M for more than 18 years.
Hill said that as of now, the Up ‘til Dawn program has about 1,000 students registered for the program on campus, and the goal is to have more than the previous year, which had more than 2,000 U of M students registered.
For students who may have gone or have had a loved one go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment in the past, this event offers an opportunity to return the favor and help others who are in need.
Jack Bailey Simpson, a physical education major at the U of M, said he participates in the program to give back to his community.
“It’s for a good cause, even if you don’t financially go, you could spiritually go or support in any way,” Simpson said. “I believe it matters in the long run … it all helps these kids, and it goes towards a great cause.”
Simpson said he will be participating in the program next year.
St. Jude’s overall goal this year is to raise $215,000, in an attempt to beat last year’s total of almost $206,000. Since the start of the program, the U of M alone has raised more than $1.5 million. Students who are seeking to get involved can find Up ‘til Dawn on Tiger Zone, which has their contact information posted as well.
Students write letters asking for donations to St Jude. This event was sponsored by Up 'til Dawn, a collegiate fundraising organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Margo Huber and Charley Johnson organize letters for a fundraising event for St. Jude. Both Huber and Johnson are members of the executive board of Up 'til Dawn, a collegiate fundraising organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
