Megan Robinson
Co News Editor
McDaniel’s Inter Greek Council supports St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital through fundraising efforts each year. At the end of this month the IGC will wrap up their yearlong fundraising efforts with a finale blowout open to all students.
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital treats many ill children without regard to their financial situation. Last year the IGC decided to begin fundraising efforts to benefit this charitable organization.
The fundraising efforts are organized through a separate club called the Up Till Dawn Club. Co-executive directors senior Katie Reynolds and senior Tiff Roberson head the club, which is made of mostly Greek students but is open to all who wish to join the effort, said Roberson.
The club has already had several small events throughout the year to raise money for the charity. These included golf cart rides where students paid a dollar to be driven to class, a grab bag tree around Christmas, and a cow drop where students bet on a square where they thought the cow would defecate.
The club also has two large events every year. In the fall, the club had a letter writing campaign at which all Greek organizations and other students wrote 35 letters per person asking friends and family to donate to St. Jude’s.
The amount raised through the letter writing campaign and the smaller efforts throughout the year will be revealed at the finale event called “Up All Night” on March 26 from 6 p.m. to3 a.m. The event lasts into the early hours of the morning to signify the sleepless nights families have spent with their sick children, said Roberson.
Despite it’s sad significance, the event will be anything but depressing. The fun night is to celebrate the amount raised throughout the year. Last year the club raised over $34,000, and this year is they are hoping to raise even more. The event will have games, inflatables, raffles, live music, food and, at midnight, it will open up into a clubroom. “The prizes were awesome,” said sophomore Matthew Dyer, who attended last year.
The event is free to those who participated in the letter writing campaign in the fall, and five dollars to those who didn’t. Additionally, students who choose to attend only the clubroom at midnight only need to pay a dollar admission.
However its not too late to participate in the letter writing campaign, said Roberson. Those who desire to join the effort and gain free entrance to the finale event can visit Erica Emmler in the College Activities office and ask for 35 envelopes and letters for the campaign.
The Up Till Dawn Club also has events throughout the year to raise awareness of the cause. There’s an entire awareness week in the fall during which they give out information on the cause. Its other awareness events include a smores night in Ensor lounge, and a hot dog eating contest held in the fall.
The club meets Tuesdays at 8 o’clock in the Leidy room. For more information, contact the club at mcdanielutd@gmail.com
