About UTD

Early in his career, Danny Thomas, a floundering entertainer, knelt at a statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. At the time, Danny had $7 dollars in his pocket. He asked St. Jude to “Show me my way in life and I will build you a shrine.” Soon after, Danny’s stardom took off, but Danny never forgot his promise to St. Jude. In 1962, Danny’s shrine to the saint took form as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The hospital was founded with his hope that “no child should die in the dawn of life.”

St. Jude is more than a treatment facility- it is a research center for the children of the world. The ground breaking research that takes place at St. Jude is shared with doctors and at hospitals throughout the world, saving the lives of countless children.

Since opening, St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and over 80 countries. St. Jude was also one of the first hospitals to treat children of all races-not an easy feat in deeply segregated Memphis, TN.

Daily Operating Costs: $ 1,027,832.
This includes everything at St. Jude- from expensive treatments, to bare necessities, no family is ever asked to pay while being treated at St. Jude. In addition to medical treatments, St.Jude/ALSAC foots the bill for all travel and food costs for families. While patients are being treated at St. Jude, families are provided lodging at one of the three housing compounds on St. Jude’s property. By lifting the financial burden, families can focus on hope and healing.

Why can’t we “adopt” a patient to raise money for?
Although it would be awesome to have a patient that each team or our school can personally identify with, due to privacy and confidentiality associated with the hospital, it is impossible for our organization to “adopt” patients or families. However, we can focus on current and past patients through the “Patient of the Month” program provided by St. Jude.

What is ALSAC?
ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities) is the fundraising arm of St. Jude. Through their fundraising efforts, ALSAC covers all the costs not covered by insurance for medical treatments rendered at St. Jude. Today, ALSAC is America’s 3rd largest health-care charity, supported by more than 1 million volunteers nationwide.

Why should we fundraise for a hospital in Memphis, TN?
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a world-renowned hospital in the treatment and research of childhood illnesses, diseases, and cancers. This hospital is one of the forerunners in finding cures for cancers. And most importantly, St. Jude provides care to children, without cost to families. St. Jude depends on corporate support, donors, and schools that have Up 'til Dawn to continue their tradition and reputation. St. Jude shares all of their research with hospitals around the world, including hospitals in Philadelphia, like CHOP. By sharing their groundbreaking protocols, kids don’t have to be taken across the country to receive treatment, they can receive the same treatment near their home that they would receive in Memphis.

Why is this program called “Up 'til Dawn?”
While our 12 hour event is filled with music, entertainment, food, and a ton of fun, our program is called “Up til Dawn” to symbolize the countless nights that parents stay up with their sick children. We give 12 hours of our time to show our support for the families that are dealing with catastrophic illnesses on a daily basis.

Where does the money that we raise go?
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. All money raised, without exception, goes to the research hospital in Memphis, TN. This hospital was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, whose dream it was that “no child should die in the dawn of life.” Thomas’ dream has become a reality through the hospital that provides care for children with terminal illnesses despite a patient family’s inability to pay. The hospital’s daily operating costs are over $800,000 per day, and will reach $1 million per day in the next 5 years, because patients are not required to pay at all. The high costs are also attributed to the research done by doctors at St. Jude’s. Doctors share their research and findings worldwide, so children all over the world benefit. St. Jude Hospital is known as a “hospital without walls.” None of the money raised by students goes toward the planning of our event. The event is funded through student organizations, corporate sponsors, and campus departments.