To help counter stress over finals and promote community involvement, 16 puppies will take over the UA Mall today.

Alpha Kappa Psi, a coed business fraternity, has paired up with the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and Paradise Bakery to provide students with their philanthropic event, Coffee and a Cuddle. The event will bring puppies from the Humane Society to the mall while Paradise Bakery will supply the coffee.

“There’s nothing people love more than puppies and babies,” said Stephanie Ho, a marketing junior and fraternity member. “Babies were out of the question.”

The fraternity consists of approximately 100 members and focuses on professionalism philanthropy and getting involved with various aspects of the community, Ho said. Their hope with this event, she added, is to continue their relationship with the Humane Society and expose the business to the UA campus community.

“Finals week is really stressful, it’s cold outside and there’s going to be puppies,” Ho said. “It’s a good opportunity to get to know our chapter, talk to all the brothers and meet more people.”

Alpha Kappa Psi was created by the pledge class of 2015 and has since continued as part of the fraternity’s service to the community. Members hope to not only help the animals, but also reduce the stress of the campus community, said Lyndsey Edmonds, a public relations committee member and communications junior.

“Giving time, attention and any donation we can to these animals in need is the least we could do,” Edmonds said. “Being able to do that while giving something to reduce the stress of campus community is an added bonus.”

Coffee and a Cuddle premiered last year when group member Jason Kiesl wanted to create a philanthropy event that would directly impact students at UA.

“During finals, students are very stressed out, and what better way to de-stress than grabbing a cup of coffee and cuddling with a puppy?” said Michael Vicidomini, vice president of philanthropy and an accounting junior.

The fraternity will donate all funds to the Humane Society.

“We hope to expand awareness for both our organization and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona by making Coffee and a Cuddle a recurring and well-known event,” Edmonds said. “To us, it’s about branding this event so that we can gain a larger audience and raise more money for such a fantastic local nonprofit in the future.”

Follow Jessica Schrecker @JKSchrecker