HWS News
10 March 2025 • Service Hearts for Ovid
Theta Phi Alpha fundraises to support victims of Ovid, N.Y. fire.
Theta Phi Alpha sorority hosted a “Hearts for Ovid” fundraiser on Feb. 14 to support the town of Ovid, N.Y. where a devastating fire burned down six businesses, including the areas only grocery store, and several apartments.
The event was a student-party hosted on campus in the Barn. All proceeds have been donated to Catholic Charities, who are on the ground helping the Ovid community. Several of the apartment tenants worked at the grocery store, losing both their personal belongings and their jobs.
Theta Phi Alpha president Guarldiard Cyriaque Mentor ’25 spearheaded “Hearts of Ovid” with assistance from the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning Katie Flowers and Bob O’Connor P’22, P’23, vice president and senior philanthropic advisor. Cohosts of the fundraiser included Chi Phi, Kappa Alpha Society, Phi Sigma Kappa and the HWS DJs Club.
Cyriaque Mentor says she was inspired to plan the event thanks to her coursework in “Congress and Presidency” and “Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Impact.” “We don't connect with each other on a local level as much anymore,” she reflects. “We are losing community. Focusing on the national scale, we lose track of people and their suffering, especially in a small town.”
The event was a success, Cyriaque Mentor says, with more than 50 people attending. The fraternal organizations also conducted outreach with their alumni, amplifying total donations. Cyriaque Mentor set a fundraising goal of $500. In the end, they successfully raised $630.
"This is the first fundraiser I've coordinated. It was scary at first because there are so many moving pieces. I felt as though I was under pressure because I wanted to give Ovid our best. Thanks to everyone that helped it was a success.”
