Published July 30, 2014
Members of the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s St. Jude fundraising organization,
“Up ‘til Dawn” (UTD), have spent the bulk of their summer raising funds for St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital.
The group used social media to reach out to possible donors. Their persistence led
to the team competing in the national “Up ‘til Dawn” Executive Board Fundraising Challenge.
The team ultimately placed second in the nation behind Louisiana State University
with over $8,500 raised. ULM’s UTD jumped eight spots in the standings in less than
30 days.
Laura Knotts, director of Student Life and Leadership and ULM’s UTD adviser said,
“We are so incredibly proud to come in second in the nation, especially when you consider
the fact that we beat out universities with over 50 thousand students. We are so excited
that the top two finishers were Louisiana schools.”
ULM’s UTD group also won an extra award for collecting over $5,300 in donations in
seven days—a $500 gift card to Target to use toward event supplies.
The top two schools received funding and travel for all of their board members and
staff advisers to attend the annual St. Jude Collegiate Leadership Seminar in Memphis—a
three-day workshop which provides students with fundraising skills and new ideas to
guide them toward a successful fundraising event for St. Jude.
Knotts said, “The chance for the entire board to go to conference was invaluable.
The students got the opportunity to learn about St. Jude, learn fundraising tactics,
and they developed their individual passions for the organization. As the conference
was ending, they all said they wished school would start so they could hurry up and
get to work.”
ULM UTD board members for the 2014-2015 school year are, Madison Harlow of Lake Charles;
Katee Fairchild of Epps; Hannah Mosher of West Monroe; Courneisha James of St. Martinville;
Karly Hubbard of Winnfield; Bryson Belaire of Basile; Ashley Lyons of Shreveport;
and Ashton Mason of Natchez, Miss.
“Up ‘til Dawn” serves as the university’s fundraising group for St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital for pediatric cancer treatment. The group puts on several annual
events to raise money including letter sending, Trunk or Treat, Captured for a Cure,
and a themed 5k.
For more information about ULM’s Up’ til Dawn fundraising, visit ULM Up 'til Dawn
ULM's UTD team at the annual Collegiate Leadership Conference. Front from Left to
Right: Madison Harlow, Laura Knotts, Katee Fairchild, Hannah Mosher, and Courneisha
James. Back row from Left to Right: Karly Hubbard, Bryson Belaire, Sandra Lara (St.
Jude regional rep), Ashley Lyons, and Ashton Mason.
