The second annual Up ‘Til Dawn program benefiting the local affiliate of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital kicks off Tuesday with food, music, prizes and a letter-writing campaign.
The local affiliate, which is located in the ETSU Cancer Clinic, opened in 1999.
It treats about 2,000 children each year.
Teams of six will gather from 2-9 p.m. in the Ballroom on the third level of the D.P. Culp Center to write letters to family and friends encouraging their support of St. Jude.
The campaign will continue throughout the year concluding with an all-night “up til dawn” celebration.
Joy Fulkerson, coordinator for community service programs, is hoping to have 50 teams – the maximum allowed – this year. She said that volunteering for this campaign is not difficult. Fulkerson said the letter-writing campaign is “one of the easiest services you’ll ever do.”
Another benefit of the Up ‘Til Dawn program is that it offers aid on a local level, something that may encourage the community to donate their time.
“People are more likely to help when they can see the effects of their work,” Fulkerson said.
The Up ‘Til Dawn program has raised more than $5 million to help St. Jude, whose operating expenses surpass $834,000 per day. Locally, the program raised more than $13,000 last year.
For more information on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Up ‘Til Dawn Program, visit their web sites at www.stjude.org and www.stjude.org/utd.

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