Eureka College students raise record amount for St. Jude

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital officials are not releasing totals yet, but they confirmed that Eureka College students have raised the most donations among area colleges and universities participating in the hospital’s Up ‘til Dawn fundraiser.

Total money raised will be announced at 2 a.m. at Eureka College’s Up ‘til Dawn event, which will run from 8 p.m. Feb.22 to 3 a.m. Feb. 23 in Reagan Physical Education Center.

"Here at St. Jude we are thrilled to welcome Eureka College to our Up 'til Dawn collegiate program,” said Jeana Baumgardner, event marketing representative at St. Jude, Peoria. “We've been amazed at the dedication of the students and the support of the faculty in their efforts to raise money for the kids of St. Jude.  The students at Eureka have really taken this event to a new level and set the bar high for other area schools."

Eureka College is the top fundraiser among participating schools, which include Eastern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Western Illinois University, Millikin University and Monmouth College, Baumgardner said.

Eureka College students kicked off their fundraisers in October with a letter-writing campaign in which more than 6,000 solicitations were sent to family and friends. That was the most letters sent from any of the area colleges participating in the event, Baumgardner noted.

Other fundraisers included a car wash, Halloween “candygram” sales, a chili cook-off and “car bashing.” A charity ball in the college Chapel is scheduled for Feb. 8. Area sponsors donated funds to provide T-shirts for event participants.

Up ‘til Dawn will include games and music to celebrate the students’ efforts, said event adviser Lisa Fischer, housing director at Eureka College. “It's great to see such a large number of our students come together for such a great cause,” Fischer said. “I'm proud of the event’s executive board for starting off so strong and proud of our students for truly wanting to participate and help in this effort.  It's easy to get students involved when they know that their efforts will assist sick children.”

To donate to the Eureka College Up ‘til Dawn, contact Fischer at 467-6419.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Treatment is provided at no cost to patients’ families.

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Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318