It is expected that 500 to 600 University of Memphis students will be fighting to stay awake at the Up 'til Dawn event at the Recreational Center March 3-4.
Up 'til Dawn is a student-led event which will raise money for St. Jude, the local hospital which specializes in treating patients with cancer-related illnesses with no regard to the patients' race, religion or ability to pay.
The students will pay to participate in the 24-hour event and all the money raised will go directly to St. Jude.
The Up 'til Dawn event, which raised $55,432 last year, was actually started on The University of Memphis campus. Today, the Up 'til Dawn idea has spread to nearly 57 different colleges across the United States, including California State University, the University of Texas and Colby College in Maine. All proceeds from these schools will benefit St. Jude.
There will be three meals, games and a variety of entertainers during the night of March 3 and the early hours of the morning of March 4. The Student Activities Council has planned to fund a portion of the entertainment, which will consist of a hypnotist and a comedian.
Up 'til Dawn entertainment coordinator Greg Caesar said the comedian and hypnotist are not going to be the only entertainers.
"We also just put in a bid to bring in a nationally recognized band to play, but nothing is confirmed yet," Caesar said.
Up 'til Dawn corporate marketing coordinator Melissa Johnson said not only will there be plenty of entertainment, but door prizes will be given throughout the night.
"As of now, a car has been pledged and we are working on getting a vacation donated," Johnson said.
The Up 'til Dawn Executive Board has also arranged for St. Jude patients who are in remission to come in and speak to the crowd.
"Having the patients speak really helps at keeping everybody focused and awake," Johnson said. "It also helps remind everybody why they're there and where their money is going."
"This year's Up 'til Dawn will be put together differently than it has been in years past," Johnson said.
In past years, the money raised has also been used to fund the entertainment, games and food. However, this year all the expenses will be covered by donations and all the money earned will go directly to St. Jude.
Another aspect of the project that will be different from last year is the involvement. In the past, the attendance has been primarily Greek, but this year the Up 'til Dawn Executive Board is aiming at
involving the entire campus.
"We don't want this to be a Greek project," Up 'til Dawn public relations coordinator Bryan Moultrie said. "This is a campus project."
"It is the best event on campus, and everyone should come," Johnson said.
An upcoming Up 'til Dawn fundraising dinner and silent auction is also coming up on Feb. 8, from 5-8 p.m. in the University Center ballroom. This fundraising dinner will be in conjunction with Black History Month and SAC Comedy Explosion.
Students interested in signing-up for Up 'til Dawn can pick up an application in the UC, room 427 or call 678-0106. The latest date to sign up is Feb. 15.
The cost for the event is $150 for an individual or $750 for a team of six and all proceeds will go to St. Jude.
