In hopes of raising awareness about the connection between homelessness and mental illness, Phi Rho will be hosting this year’s “Hut-a-Thon” fundraiser on the weekend of April 4.
The event will be held in the parking lot in front of University Ministries from 5 p.m. on Friday, April 5, through 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
Donations will be collected as pledges for those who wish to sit in or stand around a “hut,” getting a feel for what it is like to be without a home. Participants will ask friends, family members, co-workers and teachers to pledge money for the period that they sign up for. Participants are asked to sign up for at least a two-hour period. Prizes will be awarded on the final day to the individual, organization or group that raises the most money.
Proceeds from the event will be given to the Olean Genesis House, a homeless shelter; St. Bonaventure’s School of Education Counseling Clinic, which provides affordable mental health and academic services for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany, Erie and McKean counties; and Phi Rho, the St. Bonaventure chapter of the Chi Sigma Iota National Counseling Honor Society.
Group participants, such as organizations and school clubs, are encouraged to make signs or banners that have both their school/group name on them as well as facts and statistics about homelessness. Participating groups need to designate a contact person to collect money from students.
University Ministries will be open for the duration of the event providing hot chocolate, coffee, and water for participants. Restroom facilities at University Ministries will also be available.
Checks can be made out to “Phi Rho” with “Hut-A-Thon” on the memo line. All donations need to be made by April 11. The money will be collected by Dr. Mary Adekson, Kasi Maleski, or Shawn Wolfgram.
To set up at time for the money collection or to request further information on the Hut-a-Thon, contact Maleski, Phi Rho president, at maleskkm@sbu.edu. Dr. Mary Adekson and Shawn Wolfram are also available at the following e-mail addresseses: madekson@sbu.edu and wolfgrsd@sbu.edu.
The event is open to the entire St. Bonaventure community as well as the Greater Olean, Allegany and Portville areas.