FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (11/05/04)
Contact: Connie Brennan, Office of Student Life, 318-869-5118, or Lynn Stewart, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120

See also http://www.centenary.edu/stjude/

Students Working in Successful 'Up til Dawn' Fundraiser at Centenary Double Their Year's Goal

CENTENARY STUDENTS WORK ELECTION, DONATE THEIR INCOME TO 'UP 'TIL DAWN' BENEFIT FOR ST. JUDE'S Students working at KTBS-TV during the Nov. 2 election pose with KTBS News Director Jan Elkins (center). Pictured (left to right) are Madison Hoover, Natalie Daniels, Ms. Elkins, Taylor Robertson and Amanda Fontenot. Others who participated were Loraine Hendrix, Allison McCarter, Allison Mudd, Jeremy Fagan, Cory Goodwin, Connie Brennan and Rebecca Brennan. The group donated the amount they earned -- about $450 -- to the Up 'Til Dawn fundraising effort.

SHREVEPORT, LA — "It is with absolutely extreme excitement that I inform all of you that as of yesterday Up 'Til Dawn has surpassed its $10,000 goal for the year!"

That was the word Nov. 4 to the campus from Lisa Bounds and Lindsie Vidrine, Centenary students who are co-directors of the year-long volunteer effort to raise funds for the Up 'Til Dawn program that benefits St. Jude Children's Hospital.

"We have raised the goal to $20,000. Honestly everybody, I think that we have the ability to surpass even that. Congratulations to everyone...you have all done an amazing job and should be incredibly proud of this achievement. One event in one month and over $10,000...absolutely incredible," they said in a campuswide email message.

Up 'til Dawn is a student-led fund-raising program hosted by colleges and universities nationwide. It unites faculty, students, the community and sponsors in a goal to help the kids at St. Jude. At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, families of children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases are able to get the help they need. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. This means everyone gets the support and help they need, even if they can't afford it.

The success of this internationally recognized charity is only possible through the help of its amazing fund-raising volunteers and their programs like Up 'til Dawn. This year, Centenary College's program has 17 teams signed up with 228 participants.

On Oct. 1, the program sponsored two successful fundraisers: Lick n' Stick, a letter-writing event, and a Walk-a-Thon in the Fitness Center. In addition to those, the Centenary students and staff worked at KTBS-TV during the presidential election, donating their salaries to the Up 'til Dawn effort. On Nov. 19, 20 and 21 they will participate in national canning day.

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