At 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, Ithaca College’s chapter of Up Til Dawn had their second meeting of the semester in the Center for Natural Sciences to discuss fundraising plans for this semester and to welcome new members. 

About 30 students attended the meeting to generate fundraising ideas. Sophomore Tim Reynolds, executive director of Up ‘Til Dawn, discussed fundraisers such as tabling at Chili Fest, the Student Organization fair, and having a dance in April.

Reynolds said he was impressed and excited to see so many students attend the meeting, considering no concrete planning has begun for the semester.

“Last meeting I said that one of my fears is that I’m going to show up and its going to be me and two other people and I’m going to be like ‘here we go guys’,” Reynolds said.  “It’s really great to see that we are able to help people find their own passion in their life while helping children.”

Sam Provenzano, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital’s fundraising representative, attended the meeting and spoke to the attendees in an effort to jump start the semester. 

Provenzano said that he is impressed by the work that the chapter has done, and believes that they will go on to meet their $10,000 goal for the year. 

“You are really changing lives,” he said. “I’m not here because it’s a job, it’s my life style. I want to save lives, and I know you all do too.”

To date, the chapter has raised a total of $9,700 through the fall semester. Their goal is to raise another $10,000 this semester to send to St. Jude’s Hospital. 

Dylan Prill, the chapter’s public relations chair, said the efforts of the members to advertise the club has really paid off in getting more people to attend the events, but said she would like to see more members behind the scenes. 

“I’m hoping that we can just get more people involved,” she said. “It is so nice to see everyone show so much dedication to the club.”

Reynolds said he started the organization while he was in high school in memory of a friend who’s family, in lieu of flowers, asked that donations be sent to St. Jude’s Hospital. At the college, the club became an official organization this past fall.

He said his biggest hope for this semester is that they can reach out to more people and help others become aware of the organization and what it means to the children. 

“When you think about the work that the hospital is doing at the hospital its amazing,” Reynolds said. “It costs $1.4 million ever year and the work that they are doing comes with a price but what is the price of a child’s life?”