Eureka College students raise more than $25,000 for St. Jude

Up 'til Dawn Fundraiser nets $25,563

Eureka College students raised $25,563 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through an Up ‘til Dawn fundraiser this month.

Students kicked off fundraising efforts in October with a letter-sending campaign in which more than 6,000 donation letters were sent. Other fundraisers included a car wash, a chili cook-off, a “car bashing” event, a dodge ball tournament and fundraisers at Pizza Hut and Mika’s, both in Eureka, and Culver’s  in Pekin.

The fundraising culminated in a Feb. 6 Up ‘til Dawn event, which included games, crafts, activities, food and music to celebrate the students’ efforts. A 9-year-old St. Jude patient from Woodford County spoke.

Students who planned the event are Lindsay Lamberson and Lisa Sheehan, both of Pekin; Jaquelyn McCauley and Ben McCauley, both of Mendota; Bryce Swanson, Maroa; Natalie Wetterauer, Washington; Erin Bundy, Chillicothe; Kathryn Dudek, Bloomington; Chelsea Kaufman, Naperville; Geanna Hiller, Glen Ellyn; Jerica Schippert, Carlock; Leesa Statler, Marietta; and Elizabeth Gregor, Petersburg. Eureka College Residence Life Director Lisa Fischer is the staff adviser.

Last February, which was the first time that Eureka College participated in the event, students raised $24,600. The total was more than any other participating college in Illinois south of Chicago. As a result, Eureka College received the Program of the Year Award among schools in Region 13 and the national Rookie of the Year Award.   

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