Up for a Cause

From mid-afternoon to midnight on a particular day each year, for the past 10 years, there is a gathering of people on the Chico State campus. There is a different feel to this crowd compared to the normal hustle and bustle of a normal school day. There is a common purpose and a common direction that can been seen and felt.

Up 'til Dawn has arrived.

When you get into the gym, you can see how everyone has come together for this amazing cause, to help raise money for the children of St. Jude's. It is a fulfilling and eye-opening experience to see everyone come out voluntarily to give their time and effort.

But how does it work? Well, you come in (with all of your friends) and grab a table. You get a stack of premade letters to sign and address to everyone you know. This is part of what makes the amount of money we raise so astounding...it comes from the people we send letters to! It is their generous donations that make this possible. The donations we receive from them goes to benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in their treatments for childhood cancer and in their search for the cure.

And it is not a night of boring paperwork either. You don’t just come and fill out letters; you come to have a good time with your friends at the school. They provide free food and a free t-shirt for all those who are participating. There is entertainment throughout the night as well as a chance to meet a patient from St. Jude’s. It is a come-and-go-as-you-please type of environment, you do not have to stay for the entire time unless you choose to. But the crowd usually swells a bit more at the end of the night because that is when the raffle drawings begin. When you arrive, you are automatically given a raffle ticket and have the chance to win a bunch of different prizes…the most coveted being Spring tuition! I remember my first year at Up ‘til Dawn, I won tickets to go see Wicked in San Francisco. It was an awesome prize and a great trip.

If you have been to Up ‘til Dawn, you know the excitement and energy this night holds for everyone involved. If you have not gotten the chance, I urge you to come out next year and experience being a part of Up ‘til Dawn at Chico State, which has been holding the title for #1 National Fundraising School. An amazing time and an even greater cause, come out and join us!