“Up ‘Til Dawn” is an organization with a mission to end childhood cancer once and for all. The  organization benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

The organization's motto is, “One night. One cause. Our Campus.” The organization plans various activities throughout the school year to raise money, all culminating at the final event in the spring. The theme this year is “Super Hero: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things.” Arkansas Tech has a growing “Up ‘til Dawn” chapter which has many plans to raise money this year. On Oct. 6 the group had a letter writing party.

For this event students were encouraged to come prepared with addresses of friends and relatives to send letters to asking for donations.

At the event there were even dorm prizes including a Wii given away. That was the biggest event that was planned for this semester.

Executive Director Kristen Bethea said the goal of the Tech chapter is to raise $25,000 this year. At the final event in the spring it will be announced how much money was raised.

This organization was started 10 years ago with a few students at the University of Memphis. The group's name comes from St. Jude’s founder, Danny Thomas. He said that “no child should die in the dawn of life.”

It first began as merely a means of building on-campus support for the hospital but it has now turned into a multi-million dollar program. There are participants at 200 campuses across the nation.

Just like at Arkansas Tech all participants have letter writing parties, softball tournaments and carnivals to raise money throughout the school year. Then in the spring students sacrifice a night of sleep in honor of St. Jude’s patients who are battling cancer every day.

The program now generates nearly $5 million annually for research and lifesaving care at the hospital. In the last 10 years more than $20.6 million has been raised nationwide.

“Up til Dawn” has a way of bringing students across campus together. From the Greek community to honors programs, all participants have one thing in common: raising money for St. Jude’s and saving the lives of precious children. For more information on how you can get involved email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .