Former two-time alumni Board President and current Immediate Past President Dan Garcia ’01, MBA ’09, and current alumni Board Member Mari Salazar ’95, MBA ’99, hatched an idea to raise money via crowdfunding for the medical professionals who are staying in University of St. Thomas’ dorm rooms in order to protect their families from COVID-19.

Both Harris Health System and Baylor College of Medicine contracted for 30 rooms for their front-line heroes. UST has housed individual alumni who are medical professionals wanting a safe haven as well as individual nurses who reached out once they heard of the Rooms for Heroes program.

The Goal: $6,000 Raised to Provide Meals

The plan is to use the money to purchase meals for the healthcare workers. $6,000 is enough to feed 75 people a meal twice a week for a month. Whatever money is raised will all go toward meals until meals are not needed. UST is working with a couple of restaurants to provide meal options. One of the options is Underbelly, which is offering a meal for $10/person. Excess funds will be put in the CeltCare fund for future student hardship awards.

Why Bother to Give? 

Both Garcia and Salazar, who have friends that are doctors and nurses, feel it is important to give back to the community - especially when it’s a community that's always given to you. Both of them note, that even though they aren’t on the frontlines, they are helping and they want to give other UST alumni that same opportunity to help.

“I give back to UST because without them, I wouldn't be where I am today,” Garcia said. “I think UST set an example by housing healthcare workers, and we should follow that example to do what we can to help.

“We felt it was important for us to do our part to thank the healthcare workers for all the efforts and sacrifices they have made to take care of this city,” Garcia said. “UST is doing something amazing by opening up Guinan Residence Hall to these Houston Heroes and showing that Celt spirit gratitude. Rallying the alumni to do the same seemed to come naturally.”

Salazar is known as a person who carries that spirit to help her fellow man. Others see that spirit in action. Salazar’s thoughts go to a Bible verse: Romans 12:13 - Share with the Lord's people who are in need: practice hospitality.

“In these uncertain times when we all feel helpless looking outward, it is helping others that heals the soul,” Salazar said.

Give Here

The fundraising campaign is called givecampus. To participate go to this link and give generously.