Up ‘Til Dawn is a nationwide student-led fundraiser in which participating colleges and universities raise funds and awareness for St. Jude’s Hospital. Last year, $13 million was raised from campuses nationwide.
During the four-hour event, students address letters asking for donations to family, friends, coworkers, etc.
In previous years at URI, the fundraiser was mainly a Greek event and $13,000 was raised from these letters. This year, students hope to reach a goal of $30,000 by making it a campus-wide event. They’ve also set up a website, www.uri.edu/uptildawn, with links for donations and other information about the effort.
Throughout the fundraiser, there will be free food, a live band and a DJ. Sponsors will also be giving away prizes such as a video iPod, a free spring break trip and tickets to a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert (sponsored by 94.1 WHJY).
The executive director for this year’s event is senior Kaitlin Lambert. This past summer, St. Jude’s Hospital flew Lambert to Tennessee to visit the hospital and which according to Lambert has made her more passionate about the effort undertaken here.
St. Jude’s hospital is dedicated to research and treatment of pediatric cancer and catastrophic diseases. Families of a child with cancer can receive support for their airfare, meals, lodging and treatment at the hospital. No patient is asked to pay beyond what insurance covers for the treatment and those without insurance are never asked to pay. Therefore, the hospital relies heavily on donations.
The event is sponsored by the big names like 94HJY and Mohegan Sun as well as local business such as the Wheelhouse Tavern and many others.