Philanthropy teams earn more than points during Greek Week than any other event, and participants won’t be singing or tugging on ropes for them.

Every year in March the Greek Week Philanthropy committee assembles the “Up ’til Dawn” letter-writing campaign to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Each chapter generally has one or two philanthropy teams of six members. Any number of people can participate, but points are only awarded to a maximum of two teams.

On the day of the letter writing, the philanthropy team of every chapter gathers together to personalize letters and address envelopes. Each individual brings at least 50 addresses of family members and friends who receive the standard letter from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital requesting donations.

This year almost 10,000 letters were sent, a growth from last year’s 6,600 letters.

Michelle Bosco, a Greek Week Philanthropy committee member, said last year her chapter, Delta Zeta, raised $5,300 alone.

Katie Parker, senior event marketing representative for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said in 2006 Eastern earned more than $32,000 and so far the philanthropy teams have raised more than $10,000 with more money to be collected throughout a six-month term.

Greek Week philanthropy points are earned based on a number of aspects including: registration of teams, attendance to meetings, attendance to campaigns and the amount of money raised.

The team that raises the most money gets the most points, Bosco said. Philanthropy points are worth the most of all of the Greek Week events.

In addition to the Greek Week letter-writing campaign, chapters collect donations individually by speaking during hall council meetings, holding spaghetti dinners and organizing other fundraisers.

Scott Norden, Greek Week Philanthropy committee member, said the total goal this year is $50,000.

“We set our standards high because we want to make more than last year,” Norden said.

Jacklyn Stuopys, chair of the Greek Week Philanthropy committee thought the most impressive part for me is how much money everybody raises.

St. Jude works with more than 200 schools nation-wide and their personnel think Eastern is one of the top schools in regards to the letter writing campaign, Parker said. Letter writing is one of the most successful programs in the country and St. Jude always gets a good return rate.

The money raised is treating patients locally, Parker said. Although the research center is in Tennessee, donations raised by Eastern students go to the St. Jude affiliate in Peoria.

Bosco and the director of Greek Life, Bob Dudolski, will be visiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this summer. Bosco is also hoping the woman she saw speak on behalf of St. Jude at the Mid-American Greek Counsel Association conference will attend the Greek Week awards banquet to tell her story.

Bosco said St. Jude is a great organization and working with them has been a great experience.