Villanova University Celebrates 20 Years of the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service

VILLANOVA, Pa. (September 12, 2025) - On Saturday, September 20, Villanova University will celebrate 20 years of the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service, ushering in the third decade of a beloved and impactful campus tradition.

"Since its start in 2006, the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service has brought us together in the spirit of Caritas, fostering community and the common good," said University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. "It is a wonderful and powerful testament to our Augustinian heritage, values and mission."

Named for the University's patron saint, a 16th-century Augustinian friar who dedicated his life to helping the poor and disenfranchised, the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is one of the Delaware Valley's largest single-day community service initiatives.

In its 20th year, the event will bring together more than 4,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University to contribute their time, talents and efforts at 100-plus service sites across the Greater Philadelphia region and United States. Together, the Villanova community will perform thousands of hours of volunteer work, supporting charitable causes and organizations that range from food pantries and community farms to local schools and nursing homes.

"For 20 years, our campus community's commitment to the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service has been absolutely remarkable," said Father Donohue. "Each fall, I am filled with profound gratitude for how widely and enthusiastically this event has been embraced, and I look forward to once again taking part."

The St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is one of numerous opportunities for Villanovans to help those in need. Each semester, the University community regularly participates in outreach opportunities at Philadelphia-area social service and charitable organizations-and actively engages in mentoring, service break experiences and Habitat for Humanity home-building projects. As a whole, Villanovans perform nearly 250,000 hours of service work annually, making a difference in the region and across the globe.

The St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is organized by the Day of Service Committee, composed of Villanova students, faculty and staff members. For more information on the 2025 event, and to register to participate, please visit https://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 https://www.villanova.edu.