Up ‘til Dawn, a student organization that raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in an effort to help child cancer patients in Metro Detroit, recently announced that the group raised $16,870 during the letter writing campaign held in November 2007.
Students worked in teams of six to address pre-written letters explaining the importance of St. Jude’s continuing research and asking for donations to the facility. Each participant was asked to bring at least 50 names and addresses of family and friends. According to Amanda Rymiszewski, executive director of Up ‘til Dawn, approximately 90 students participated in the letter writing campaign.
The total collected was announced during Up ‘til Dawn’s Finale Party on March 19 in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms. Local St. Jude patients were also at the event, which featured local bands, games, food and prizes.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the world’s premier research and treatment center for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. This hospital is unique because sick children who need the help stay there free of charge. No family is ever turned away due to their inability to pay. The hospital has a daily operating cost of more than $1.2 million, so to keep the hospital operating, it needs the generous support of everyone, including college students.
Interested students can get involved with Up ‘til Dawn by visiting the UTD Web site. For more information on St. Jude’s, visit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Web site.