More than 100 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students raised $23,657 during the St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn event, a fundraising program hosted nationally by colleges and universities to raise money for the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The total raised was a record for the SIUE effort.
SIUE students joined their counterparts on campuses across the country Saturday, Dec. 3 and stayed up all night in the Morris University Center to help kids who are battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
The event began with Zumba and an opening ceremony with St. Jude videos and instructions about the evening. Other activities included a banner decorating event for teams, a dodgeball tournament, a life size Hungry Hippo game and a relay race. There were smaller events sprinkled throughout the evening with snack breaks.
Throughout the night there was a live DJ and food and prizes donated from community businesses, according to Cathy Passananti, associate director of the Morris University Center and Student Success Center.
“Our current total is $23,657,” Passananti said. “This does not include all of the online donations. We are hopeful for the total to rise a bit more. Continued donations are still welcome.”
Visit, St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn to contribute. For more information, contact Passananti at cpassan@siue.edu or 618-650-2301.
Photo: (L-R) Helping raise monies for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital were Bekah Abbott, St. Jude representative; Katie Ruholl, recruitment director; and Kevin Robards, event and logistics team.