For the eighth consecutive year, Villanova University held its annual day of giving, honoring the year of Villanova’s foundation: 1842. While donations were available to go to academic causes and the areas of greatest need on Villanova’s campus, more than 70 student organizations and clubs might ring truer for students, with these organizations ranging from student media organizations to Greek Life to club sports.
The day, as always, was chock full of different celebratory events to donate and for students to raise money and earn prizes, including an Activities Passport for the chance to win a variety of things, “Cat Cabs” to answer Villanova trivia in a titular Cat Cab around campus to raise money for a student organization and club of their choosing and Oreo Dunk, which is playing a Plinko-like game for the chance to win Villanova gear and prizes.
But this 1842 Day, in the wake of the recent announcement by University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. that Espiritus Nova: the Campaign for Villanova University, a campaign to raise over 1.25 billion dollars, rings just a bit more impactful, with all donations made today helping to reach that goal.
“Your gift on 1842 Day is a meaningful way to participate in Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University,” a statement by the University on the 1842 Day website read. “[It is] our most ambitious campaign ever, and will allow us to continue to create opportunities for our students to engage, serve and ignite change on campus and beyond.”
With the University having raised more than 13.3 million dollars during 2023’s 1842 Day, this year, it set an ambitious goal of aiming to have more than 8,000 donors make gifts to whichever area of Villanova they desire.
“1842 Day means a lot to me because it’s a day about giving,” senior Isabella Ledet said. “But you can specifically donate your money where you feel it can be put to best use.”
Student clubs and organizations also held a tabling event at the Quad, where the band, dance and cheer teams performed, as well as a variety of on-campus vocal and dance groups. Organizations provided prizes for donations, snacks and activities and information on how to become more involved within their group on campus.
This also included, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the “Power Hour.” During this specific hour, each organization received an additional link and QR code, and based on a tier of involvement scale (based on general body size within said organization), the top organizations in each tier based on the amount of donors, earned a bonus in the form 500 dollars towards their organizational budget. The way they get that bonus, however, comes in a variety of creative and entertaining ways.
“My club, [Villanova Television (VTV)], is participating in the Giving Power Hour to raise money, [with] some of our members taking pies to the face,” Ledet, Vice President of VTV, said. “VTV uses our donations for new equipment, merch, or bonding events, which are extremely valuable to our club and can really only happen because of 1842 Day.”
The eighth annual 1842 Day was a major success, with many different organizations and parts of campus benefiting from donations from fellow Villanovans, both past and present. For more information on the event and how to sign up one’s student club or organization for the 2025 edition of the event, visit the University’s 1842 Day website.
