Villanova University to Celebrate 19th Annual St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service

VILLANOVA, Pa. (August 27, 2024) - On Saturday, September 7, Villanova University will hold its 19th annual St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service. Named for the University's patron saint, a 16th-century Augustinian bishop who devoted his life to helping the poor and disenfranchised, the yearly event is one of the Delaware Valley's largest single-day community service initiatives.

This year, more than 4,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University are anticipated to take part, volunteering their time, talents and efforts at more than 100 service sites throughout the Greater Philadelphia region and across the United States. Collectively, the Villanova community will contribute thousands of hours of service work, providing vital support to charitable causes and organizations that range from food pantries and community gardens to local schools and homeless shelters.

"Bringing us together in the spirit of Caritas, the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is a wonderful reflection of Villanova's Augustinian Catholic heritage, values and mission," said University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. "It is an incredibly meaningful and important tradition for our community, and I look forward to taking part each fall."

The St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is one of many opportunities hosted throughout the year for Villanovans to help those in need. In addition to participating in weekly outreach opportunities at Philadelphia-area social service and charitable organizations, community members regularly engage in a variety of long-term mentoring and service break experiences, as well as ongoing Habitat for Humanity home-building projects.

The St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is organized by the Day of Service Committee, comprised of Villanova students, faculty and staff members. For more information on the 2024 event, please visit www.villanova.edu/stvc.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University's Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges-the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation's top universities, Villanova supports its students' intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.