Up 'Til Dawn raises money for worthy cause
By Michelle Ferguson '09
In June 2008, two students, Molly Miller '10 and Jacob Schwartz '10, and the Assistant Director of Greek Life, Deanne Walters, walked into St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The three were searching for a cause that Hanover students could support and less than one year later, they had raised more than $16,000 for the pediatric cancer research center.
"St. Jude's is such a positive place," said Miller. "You can really tell it's for the kids. But it's a bittersweet experience though, because you know they really are sick. The kids are so ready to get better it gets you excited to help them."
With funding from the Panhellenic and Inter-Fraternal Council, the group came back to campus motivated to make Hanover's first Up 'Til Dawn event a success. They recruited a team of 200 students to write more than 3,000 letters to friends, family and others who could help.
The organization's original goal for the first year was an ambitious $15,000. The group revealed the actual amount raised, $16,668, at a celebration event held in March.
"When the executive committee found out we couldn't believe it. We thought we might have gotten eight or nine thousand. It was incredible," said Miller.
Besides raising funds, Miller added the students also hoped to spread awareness for the hospital.
"It takes 1.2 million dollars a day to run St. Jude's. Just getting awareness out about the good things the hospital is doing was important to us."
The success of Up 'Til Dawn did not go unnoticed by the Hanover College community. The organization won the 2008-2009 Collaborative Program of the Year at the Student Organization Excellence Awards.
The leaders of the organization plan to continue to build on the past year's success and have already scheduled the next letter-writing campaign for November.
"I think passing the $20,000 mark is do-able," said Walters. "We want to have more student involvement next year as well. Having around 250 to 300 students would be great."
Community involvement is an aspect the leaders are excited to integrate into next year's program.
"We want to get more people from the Hanover and Madison communities involved," said Miller. In May, we're looking to hold a yard sale that's open to everyone so we can help push our total to over $17,000 raised for this year."
Miller said the group hopes that student involvement continues even after graduation.
"This isn't just something to do," she said. "It's a great way to donate time to people who really need it. Without these kinds of events, some of the kids at the hospital couldn't get the treatment they need"
On average, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital treats 5,400 children each year. Thanks to the efforts by Hanover students and the donations made through their efforts, these kids now have a better chance at having their own college experience someday.
Senior Michelle Ferguson (New Palestine, Ind.) majors in cultural anthropology. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
