Students in Service Spotlight: Supporting Children’s Hospitals and Crisis Counseling

Top row, pictured left to right: Sofia Mulligan (director of Team Captains), Jayda Catrina-Fogarty (co-executive chair), Krista Pulisic (co-executive chair). Bottom row, pictured left to right: Sabrina (Alpha Sigma Alphas Be Positive Hero) and her sister Kiara.

April is National Volunteer Month, and students at Stony Brook are stepping up to make a difference, volunteering their time and skills to support causes that matter to them and their communities. Their efforts uplift communities and provide valuable hands-on experiences while giving back.

The Center for Service Learning and Community Service and its staff have created a series of stories, highlighting the positive impact student volunteers have made through their service and celebrating their inspiring work to spark meaningful change in the Stony Brook community and beyond.

Spotlight 1 - Senior Krista Pulisic Chairs Wolfiethon to Aid Children With Cancer

Senior Krista Pulisic is the Co-Executive Chair of Wolfiethon, an organization partnered with the B+ Positive Foundation, the largest provider of financial support for families of children diagnosed with cancer.

Wolfiethon hosts several service events throughout the school year to raise funds leading up to Wolfiethon Dance-a-thon, where the Wolfiethon committee announces the total amount of money raised. Wolfiethon participates in the B+ Positive Hero program, which pairs children diagnosed with cancer with student organizations to provide opportunities to socialize through crafts and game nights that they otherwise may lack due to school absences.

Pulisic was first introduced to Wolfiethon as a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha. After attending the big Wolfiethon Dance-a-thon, she was inspired to run for the position of Event Coordinator and this year she has taken on the role of Co-Executive Chair. The most rewarding aspect of her volunteer work, she shared, was reflecting on the growth she has seen from Sabrina, Alpha Sigma Alpha's B+ Positive Hero. Pulisic explained that she is touched by how much Sabrina has become comfortable with their group, noting that "she really feels like she has a home with us."

Through volunteering with Wolfiethon, Pulisic has developed leadership skills by supervising 24 committee members. Last year Wolfiethon raised over $80,000 and is striving to raise even more this year, and Pulisic is committed to ensuring everyone involved feels a sense of belonging and connection to the mission.

Spotlight 2 - Senior Matthew Kumar and Project Sunshine Raise Funding for Children's Hospitals

Project Sunshine is an organization dedicated to supporting children and families facing health challenges in hospitals nationwide. Through fundraisers like plant sales, Halloween bake sales, and a Masquerade Ball, members raise funds with all proceeds benefiting children's hospitals.

Senior Health Science major Matthew Kumar, the Internal Vice President, organizes online volunteering sessions to coordinate activities like playing games with children. He recently collaborated with Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital. He shares a memorable Halloween Teleplay experience, when "all the kids dressed up in their costumes, and they wanted to show off their costumes." He recalls that "it was definitely a very wholesome moment."

Matthew has been a part of Project Sunshine since his freshman year, drawn to its close-knit community. He shares that he was "looking for the opportunity to have the volunteer aspect in the work that I was doing…something that would take my mind off of my schoolwork and be able to give back in a positive way."

With each child Matthew interacts with, he learns something new, explaining that "even though they're young, sometimes you can learn something from them that you might not have thought of yourself." For any students interested in volunteering, Matthew suggests attending one of Project Sunshine's open events, such as the Holiday Card making or the Masquerade Ball. These events provide a chance to see the club's impact, while also contributing to a good cause.

Spotlight 3 - Senior Xuan Wan Lends Her Support as a Crisis Counselor

Senior Health Science major Xuan Wan currently volunteers as a Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line, dedicating two hours weekly to support individuals facing mental health crises through text messages.

Describing her role as a Crisis Counselor, Wan shares, "The first thing I would do is give them a warm greeting, then ask them what their concern or issue is, and then I ask them what support they already have or they can use to help them feel better." Wan discovered this opportunity through Heather O'Connor, the SBU Career Center's Healthcare Career Community Manager, and was drawn to the role for its flexibility and the impact it can have on others.

Wan says her favorite aspect of being a Crisis Counselor is receiving feedback from those she has supported. In doing so, she realizes that she can provide individuals "a way to de-stress and relax, even if it's just for a day or two." Recalling her first conversation with a texter, Wan says,"what [the texter] needed was someone to listen to her and not give her solutions. And that's something that we do as a platform."

Although the role was initially out of Wan's comfort zone, she found support from other volunteers. She explains, "You learn along the way, ways that you can help yourself cope with these conversations, and you can help the texters with their situation as well." Wan looks forward to being more involved in the volunteer community, and to continuously learn from others.

Want to Get More Involved?

Interested in learning more about how to get involved in community service? Visit the Center for Service Learning and Community Service in SAC 228, email CommunityService@stonybrook.edu or schedule an appointment on Handshake using the "Volunteer Positions and Service Projects" category.

Contributors: Service and Community Leader Team
Aima Chaudhry '25
Merica Griffin '25
Lily Kis-Horvath '27
Angelica Zeideia '26