Organizations across campus licked and sealed numerous letters to their families and friends on Tuesday for Up ‘til Dawn’s “Great-Lick-Athon” in an effort to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Up ‘til Dawn is a student-led fundraising program hosted by universities nationwide. The goal of the “Great-Lick-Athon” is for each participant to send letters to friends and family requesting donations for the hospital’s research.
“There are over 300 Up ‘til Dawn programs across the nation,” said Edgard Izaguirre, senior business major and associate director of Up ‘til Dawn. “Together, they raise millions of dollars – the ‘Great-Lick-Athon’ is one of our major fundraising events this year.”
Izaguirre said one of the best parts of the event is that students from numerous organizations come to participate and help raise money.
“We have students from honor societies, fraternities, sororities and other clubs,” Izaguirre said. “This is an event that has been done for 10 years, so obviously; it’s been incredibly successful.”
Jamie Nicholson, a sophomore recording industry major, said she heard about the event after joining the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
“St. Jude has always been my favorite charity,” Nicholson said. “I heard about Up ‘til Dawn when I first came to MTSU, and I always wanted to find a way to get involved.”
Students participating in the event, which lasted from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. in the Tom H. Jackson building, were required to write a minimum of 35 letters to people they thought would help support the cause and donate money.
“I’ve already written about 60 letters and my goal is to write 70,” said Derek Hickerson, a freshman elementary education major and member of 4-H. “It’s really cool that MTSU stays grounded enough to where they are still doing things to raise money for other people.”
Elizabeth Michels, a senior organizational communications major, said this was her first year participating in an Up ‘til Dawn event.
“One of my [sorority] sisters in Zeta Tau Alpha is the president of Up ‘til Dawn, and she really encouraged us to participate,” Michels said. “My hand might be cramping, but at least I know it’s for such a great cause.”
St. Jude is one of the word’s premier centers for research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.
“I’m hoping the people I send these letter to will want to contribute and help save lives,” said Brittany Bird, an undeclared freshman. “I feel like if it were their child that needed this, they’d definitely want someone to help them.”
The final event for Up ‘til Dawn will take place in February at the Recreation Center and will feature games, live entertainment and other activities for students and community members to participate in an attempt to stay up all night to raise money for St. Jude.
“This is such a great cause, especially when you can get those who are close to you interested in supporting your cause,” said Claire Pointer, a senior accounting major and member of Chi Omega. “Once you help in one event, it’s hard not to want to participate in more.”
Students lick, hold St. Jude fundraiser
Published: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009
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