The University of New Haven Up ‘Til Dawn has been known to go above and beyond in terms of fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Hospital—last year, Up ‘Til Dawn surpassed their goal by raising $34,000 and this year, the organization has already hit and passed their second goal of $60,000 by raising $63,000.
UTD reached and surpassed their first goal of $50,000 on Sunday, Feb. 15; in less than a week, the organization hit their second goal by raising $63,000, nearly doubling last year’s total amount.
According to the UTD Executive Board members, the new goal will be kept a secret and unveiled, along with the total amount of money raised, at the Finale Event on Feb. 28.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility that aims to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric diseases through research and treatment. As stated as part of their mission statement, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
At St. Jude, families never have to worry about the bill—the hospital funds treatment, travel, housing, food and research conducted are free of charge because “all a family should worry about is helping their child live,” according to their website.
St. Jude shares all the breakthroughs they make worldwide, and treatments invented at the facility have helped raise the childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since opening its door in 1962.
The UNH chapter of St. Jude Up ‘Til Dawn has been on the UNH campus for the past seven years, and has been hosting the Finale Event for the last six in an effort to raise money and awareness for St. Jude.
The Finale Event will be held in the Beckerman Recreation Center on Saturday Feb. 28 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and throughout the night, teams will compete in various challenges to raise points. Text message clues will be sent out at midnight, 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. and teams will have to complete each challenge presented. In between the events, smaller side challenges will be announced and will grant the teams more opportunities to raise points.
While the Finale Event has been held for the past six years, this is only the second year that the event is a competition between teams: previous to 2014, the Finale Event was a letter writing event, where students would come to write letters to children with cancer throughout the night.
Feb. 23 through Feb. 27—the week leading up the event—is Awareness Week, where teams will have the opportunity to raise points by completing small side events, such as taking selfies with an e-board member, team bandana making and attending a movie night.
“I’ve been involved with St. Jude ever since I could remember,” said Julianne Toce, the Recruitment Chair of Up ‘Til Dawn, who started her involvement with St. Jude as a Girl Scout when she was in elementary school.
“Everyone here is so passionate about Up ‘Til Dawn, and I just wanted to be a part of it,” Toce said.
Passionate doesn’t even begin to describe some of the students at UNH who are participating in the Finale Event. Sophomore Bianca Gureralp, top fundraiser both last and this year, has already raised $1,912.77 and does not plan to stop.
“As a freshman last year, I was able to raise $1,377.77 and was the top fundraiser. This year I set a goal of $1,500 and an extended goal of $1,750,” Gureralp said. “Never in a millions years did I ever think, I would raise as much as I have now.”
Gureralp has always loved fundraising. “Growing up, I have always been very involved with charitable foundations and community service. I have been so blessed to have friends and family that give with love,” she said. “I think it makes a very big difference when you give with love and that is why I have been such a successful fundraiser. My motto is ‘giving selflessly whether it is dedicating your time or money is one of the greatest things we can do as human beings!’ Needless to say, when we give, we always receive.”
