Meet Kevin Ourvan, End Overdose's November Volunteer of the Month and the President and Founder of End Overdose's chapter at Cornell University. Since founding the chapter, Kevin has dedicated himself to creating a safer campus community. This semester alone, Kevin trained over 400 individuals and over 18 student organizations!
End Overdose: Why was Kevin selected as the Volunteer of the Month?
Maddie Ward: Kevin has founded and grown a thriving End Overdose chapter at Cornell University and demonstrated remarkable leadership, compassion, and commitment to making a difference. The work he has done on his campus has made a tangible impact on the lives of others, and it is apparent in any conversation you have with him how deeply he cares about the safety and well-being of his peers. Kevin has been an absolute joy to work with, and the End Overdose team is proud to recognize him as our December Volunteer of the Month.
EO: Can you tell us about yourself and your story?
Kevin Ourvan: I’m a senior studying Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University where I founded and lead its End Overdose chapter. I grew up in New York City playing basketball and now I also love being in nature, skiing and hiking. When I am not in class or engaging with my community through End Overdose, I am working on my senior thesis on the current disciplinary system in NYC public schools and how it impacts certain vulnerable groups. I am also preparing for the LSAT this coming spring/summer and plan to attend law school after taking a gap year. During my gap year, I hope to work abroad as a Fulbright Scholar, teaching English to students in Romania.
EO: What inspired you to volunteer for End Overdose?
Kevin Ourvan: I was inspired to join End Overdose after two friends of mine died from overdoses during my freshman year of college. Growing up in New York City, I witnessed firsthand the agony and grief caused by overdose deaths, and I felt helpless to do anything about this tragedy. End Overdose gave me a way to make a tangible impact on my community. My work in harm reduction has been deeply healing and has helped me process past experiences. I’ve always wanted to help people, and End Overdose inspired me to pursue work in the nonprofit and public interest space. This led me to intern last summer with the nonprofit OPEN DOORS—an artist collective of diverse wheelchair users on Roosevelt Island. I hope to continue bettering my community in my professional life and making a meaningful impact on individuals’ lives.
EO: What’s your favorite memory of volunteering with End Overdose?
Kevin Ourvan: I genuinely enjoy every opportunity I get to volunteer on campus, so it’s hard to pick one specific favorite moment. However, the ones that stand out the most are when I hear about the tangible impact our work has had on our community. For instance, our faculty advisor, Officer Robinson of the Cornell University Police Department, once told me that he responded to calls where students used the knowledge and tools we provided to save someone’s life. Similarly, a younger club member shared that their work with the chapter has been personally healing for them. These moments are incredibly meaningful to me and provide the motivation to continue this community work. If I had to choose one favorite memory, it would be our recruitment cycle at Clubfest. After I started the club, seeing the overwhelming interest from students, faculty, and other organization leaders all in one place was truly inspiring. It reminded me of something a professor once told me: that we are living in a time when advocacy and community work are at a peak. Despite how divided the world may seem, there has never been as much concerted effort to help one another as there is now.