“FTK,” or “For the Kids,” is a phrase individuals may see on the back of sweatshirts and across campus. One may notice little yellow ribbons pinned onto students’ backpacks, or see messages tied with gold ribbon to different door knobs, umbrellas or lamp posts on campus sharing short messages. But what are these for, and what do they mean?
NOVAdance is Villanova’s year-long fundraising campaign for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which all culminates into the 12-hour dance marathon which takes place every year in March. However, NOVAdance is more than those 12 hours of dancing and fun. It is a year-long effort in which members of the committee, as well as members of Morale Committee, Sidekicks, Engagement Coordinators, Team Captains, Hero Lesions and members of the Villanova Community, come together to spread awareness of the B+ message and mindset on campus.
Sept. 22 marked the beginning of the fall semester awareness week for NOVAdance. The week was filled with events such as selling merchandise, handing out ribbons for awareness, selling flowers, an awareness panel and more.
“The whole point of that week, which we titled awareness week, is just to create our outreach to the Villanova community,” NOVAdance Awareness Chair Meredith Sheftel said. To understand what NOVAdance is doing, and how we are supporting families and fighting pediatric cancer.”
The week started on Monday, when members of the NOVAdance committee handed out ribbons for people to show their support.
“Monday we completed our Paint the Town Gold Day, we tabled at the Oreo and handed out all of our ribbons for people to put on their backpacks,” Sydney Rinaldi, member of the awareness team on NOVAdance committee, said. “Every day, different people can see all these gold ribbons and remember what we are fighting for.”
The following day, NOVAdance held a panel which showcased two pediatric nurses as well as Kim Clark, the mother of B+ Hero Harry. Harry, who is paired with Alpha Gamma Delta on campus, was diagnosed with B Cell leukemia in 2020 and has been a part of NOVAdance since he was in treatment.
“Being a parent of a cancer patient, especially during Covid, had been extremely isolating,” Clark said. “Thankfully, one thing with NOVAdance is when they did have events we talked to other cancer parents for the first time. It was crazy, not having to explain or give background, everything already made sense.”
On Wednesday, within a short few hours, all of the NOVAdance merchandise was essentially sold out, and students all around campus were seen with their new hoodies and shirts, showing their support for the organization.
“On Thursday, we hosted Flowers for Heroes,” Sheftel said. “We received a lovely donation from our local Trader Joes and we sold individual flowers for $2, with all the money being donated to NOVAdance. That day alone we raised over $150. It was very exciting, we would stop friends asking if they wanted to buy a flower and they would respond, you know, ‘I’ve seen these around campus, and I was wondering what it was for,’ and I think that really is they key and kind of like the goal of what awareness week is to have people who not necessarily, you know, on NOVAdance committee, or directly involved with NOVAdance, be able to explain what the message is, and what the organization stands for.”
“I was not sure what organization was selling the flowers I was seeing around campus,” junior Kara McGoldrick said. “My friends and I quickly learned that they were for NOVAdance and had to stop by and get a few. It was so special being able to donate to an amazing cause, and I really enjoyed playing a small role in the awareness for NOVAdance.”
NOVAdance does work year-round to ensure that the families and the B+ Heroes matched with Villanova organizations are seen, heard and supported. Whether it is hosting Christmas parties or nail painting events, or larger days such as the B+ Ball and day of dance marathon, the work NOVAdance does on campus does not go unnoticed.
“It has always struck me that college students are this proactive, interested and invested in something that is extra work for them, I think that in my 20s I don’t think I had it together like this,” Clark said. “They take the time to get to know Harry, which seems so much on top of a busy college life and they truly care and know him. He loves spending time with his sorority sisters, and they put in a lot of effort that they wouldn’t even have to. It has made our lives so much easier.”
