Lets face it, ladies. We aren’t exactly known for being underachievers here at DePauw. Whether its a dedication to making Dean’s List or maintaining that top ten placement on the less academic lists (ahem, Princeton Review), we have an indisputable work hard, play hard mentality. Sophomores Emily Jones and Mark Fadel founded Up ’til Dawn this fall in order to combine fun and service in raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her Campus spoke with Emily about Up ’til Dawn, St. Jude, and ways for you to get involved in an inspiring organization.
How has your involvement shaped you as a DePauw woman?
I have really grown up from the whole experience. It has provided me with an opportunity to be a part of something larger than myself–it has taught me to be aware of other people around the world and never forget that there are people who always have it worse. One of the greatest experiences the organization has provided me with was the opportunity to go to the Leadership Seminar at the hospital last summer (up for grabs :] ). Seeing and learning from patients just makes you realize how great your life really is, and how much is taken for granted everyday. I feel that if children going through chemo and battling cancer can still find reasons to laugh and smile, people need to reevaluate the cause of their unhappiness.
What inspired you to found Up ’til Dawn?
Up ’til Dawn runs in Mark’s family. He is Lebanese, and his family has strong ties with St. Jude Children’s Hospital, as the Lebanese were some of the first supporters. In chemistry lab last year, Mark asked me if I was interested in helping him begin this organization. I was really involved with St. Jude at my high school, and in high school I also had a good friend who was diagnosed with Leukemia. I was like…HECK YEAH I’m on board! We really wanted to raise awareness at DPU.
What are the benefits to joining Up ’til Dawn?
Up ’til Dawn events can be found at campuses across the country–Indiana actually has about 5 other schools that participate. You get the chance to be a part of something larger than you. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital serves children from all over the world who suffer from catastrophic diseases, and we honestly can contribute to their cause.
We have about 12 exec members, as we just redid the job descriptions to be more suitable for our chapter. There are around 20 other people that attend meetings pretty regularly, and help out as much as they can. We have a great advisor, JC Lopez, who also has experience with the cause. He was part of a chapter at Slippery Rock, his undergraduate university. He’s great.
What events have you done in the past?
We have one main event each year in the fall: our letting writing campaign and our actual Up ’til Dawn event. Since this is fairly new, we are still brainstorming and figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Needless to say, we have come up with some pretty cool ideas, one of which is a guest speaker (a doctor who worked at St. Jude) that we are trying to get to come this semester and talk about his experiences. We have high hopes of targeting the pre-med students, in addition to the entire student body.
How much money have you raised thus far?
We raised around $9,500 at our actual event this past fall, and our goal is to be near $15,000 by the end of this year! It will take some work, but we exceeded our goal for our first event. Some new fundraisers are underway right now, one of which is an online letter campaign where we send e-mails to family and friends asking for donations. This may be easier for some people to give, as it is more time-efficient.
What are your plans/goals for this semester?
We are planning some side events now to help raise additional funds. As I said earlier, we are planning to have a doctor come speak to the university that used to work at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. He will talk about his experiences and hold Q&A sessions. This is a great opportunity for pre-med students, in addition to the whole campus, to learn more about the cause. We also have some other side events that are still in the planning process. GET EXCITED–WE ARE!
How do you plan to continue this involvement beyond DePauw?
The sole cause of St. Jude is to provide health care services to children with catastrophic diseases for children across the world. This organization is an easy way to get involved beyond DePauw. I plan to be a supporter and advocate of St. Jude for the rest of my life.
What advice do you have for the women of DePauw who want to found their own organization?
Pursue your dreams. DePauw really encourages its students to pursue their interests both academically and non-academically. Best of all, most of the profs are very supportive. Think it out, talk it up, and do it.
Who are some other women leaders on campus that you look up to?
Roddrea Smith is highly involved in Relay for Life. She is very intelligent, manages her time well (she is a mentor and a pre-med student), very sweet, and never hesitates to lend advice or suggestions. She is a great, very positive role model.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Emily Jones, emilyjones_2013@depauw.edu, or Mark Fadel, markfadel_2013@depauw.edu, for more information and updates!
About St. Jude Children’s Hospital:
St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today’s most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. (via stjude.org)