The Good 5 Cent Cigar

Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Teresa Kelly University of Rhode Island cheerleaders Kimmie O'Neil and Christine Massella took part in the letter writing fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital last night in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

11/4/09 - University of Rhode Island students and community members participated in giving last night, as St. Jude Up 'Til Dawn sponsored its fifth annual letter-writing fundraiser to raise money for the St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Receiving funding solely from public donations, the St. Jude Children's Hospital was established in 1957 in Tennessee, and seeks to provide free treatment to children from all over the world who have been diagnosed with cancer and blood-related diseases.

Executive director of URI's St. Jude Up 'Til Dawn Jaime Werner said it costs $1.4 million to run the hospital each day. By raising money by having various events throughout the year, the group aids in providing the funds needed to fuel research and treatment.

Junior Alexandria Bio said, "This event really helps spread the word about what's going on in the world [and increases awareness] about the many children who need treatment but never get it."

Since the conception of the letter-writing fundraiser five years ago, thousands of dollars have been raised to meet the costs necessary to continue providing treatment to sick children.

According to Werner, 800 people attended last year's event, raising $40,000 for the hospital.

"In this event, people write letters to people that they know, such as churches and coworkers, asking for a donation to St. Jude's," Werner said. "Then, we hope for return rates from the people receiving the letters. "

The average return rate is $25, Solomon A. Solomon, board national committee member for the St. Jude Hospital, said. As a result of the return donations the hospital receives over $2 billion annually.

Werner said that she expects to see a higher return rate in the upcoming months because of the holiday season and hopes to surpass last year's donations by $5,000. This will bring the goal for the event to $45,000. She also said she expected a big turnout rate for last night's event.

Solomon said the letter-writing fundraiser only further displays peoples' generous will to give for the betterment of the world.

"St. Jude's went from a tiny $1.5 million hospital to a [globally renowned] one funded by ordinary people," Solomon said. "It truly is 'the dream that awoke the world'."

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