 |
Wittenberg's Up 'til Dawn organizing team included: (back row, from left) Siri Groeber (St. Jude staff partner), Whitney Hull, Colleen Stephens, Lindsay Dollinger, Heather Sharp, Jackie Flickinger, Alison Gaugenbaugh; (front row, from left) Kevin Jansen, Michelle Kaiser, April Saunders. Missing: Brad Folta |
"Up 'til Dawn" is a student-led, student-run fundraising program hosted by colleges and universities nationwide, with Wittenberg participating for the first time in the 2007-08 school year. It unites students, faculty and the surrounding community in an effort to support the life-saving cancer treatment and research of St. Jude.
The kick-off event took place in October 2007 as volunteers sent out 50 letters each to friends and family asking for donations. In February, volunteers were recognized and the fund-raising total celebrated with Wittenberg's first-ever "Up 'til Dawn" event, which included drawings and prizes, free activities and food.
Whitney Hull, class of 2009 from Atlanta, N.Y., started the program at Wittenberg as the campus' executive director for the 2007-08 school year. She was thrilled with the response.
"For a small school [such as Wittenberg] and being the first year of the program, $21,424 is an incredible total," Hull said.
Hull believes the program is important, and the hospital has already seen progress in the research of the most prevalent type of children's cancer.
"In 1962 the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer was 4 percent. Today, the survival rate for this once-deadly disease is 94 percent," Hull said.
"The biggest payoff was my trip to St. Jude last summer to see the kids and the great cause the money is going towards," Hull said. "Knowing that the small Witt community has raised so much money and is helping outside the 'Witt bubble' is remarkable."
The Wittenberg students responsible for the impressive campus effort are Alison Gaughenbaugh, class of 2008 from Pickerington, Ohio; Michelle Kaiser, class of 2010 from Strongsville, Ohio; Colleen Stephens class of 2009 from Lexington, Ky.; Heather Sharp, class of 2009 from Lisbon, Ohio; April Saunders, class of 2009 from Mt. Sterling, Ohio; Brad Folta, class of 2010 from West Lafayette, Ind.; Lindsay Dollinger, class of 2009 from South Vienna, Ohio; Jackie Flickinger, class of 2009 from South Amherst, Ohio; and Kevin Jansen, class of 2010 from Toledo, Ohio.
The students plan to continue the "Up 'til Dawn" program next year and have very high expectations. To get involved, contact Hull via e-mail, or visit the St. Jude Web site.
Written By: Sydney Bates '08
073-08
| Related Links: |
