"On October 3, 2024, I (Alexandra Buffi) and the brothers of Phi Kappa Psi, with the help of Kieton Nunes and Nathan Thiboutot, held an event supporting the Gianna Cirella Memorial Fund.
In 2023, Nathan was sick and had to be rushed to Kent Hospital twice in two days. Tara contacted Nathan's mom and told her to get him tested for sepsis. Nathan spent 9 days in the ICU and the hospital for three weeks. He then received two major surgeries within a week of one another for his right knee and left shoulder.
I met Nate at the beginning of 2023 and we have been good friends ever since. When I was told by one of my friends in Phi Psi that Nate had sepsis it felt like I was back in 2017 and I was going to lose another friend. Thankfully as stated before, he is still with us today. When Nate returned to school, I was flooded with emotions and I gave him a hug not only for him but for Gianna. Over the past year, I have had many conversations with Nate and the brothers about what happened to him, what sepsis is, and why his coming back meant so much to me.
Over the summer I reached out to Nate and he got me in touch with Kieton who helped me put all of this together. We got the supplies, made the posters, and were ready. On the first Thursday of October, we set up a booth outside of the Memorial Union and had the majority of the fraternity helping us. We did "Pie a Phi Psi", and we had so many generous people come up to us that day and donate just to donate or donate to pie a brother. Three girls in particular came up to me and I shared Gianna's story with them and combined they donated $100.
I remember telling Kieton and Nate that I was nervous I was not going to raise enough money to make myself and Gianna proud. That day the URI community proved me wrong. In just three short hours of the brothers and myself getting pies in the face, we raised $664.
I am forever grateful to my two friends Kieton and Nate for all their help and always being there for me. I am also grateful to Phi Kappa Psi for all that they do and what they did that day. One last thank you to Tara, who has seen me since I was a young girl and has helped me use my voice to do good."
Thank you,
Alexandra Buffi
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