Twelve years ago, the B+ Foundation was brought to Villanova’s campus.
Joe McDonough, the organization’s founder, visited Villanova to share the B+ message. He spoke about his son’s, Andrew McDonough, 167-day battle with pediatric cancer and his family’s mantra to “be positive.”
Together, a member from Sigma Nu fraternity and a member from Delta Delta Delta sorority at Villanova were inspired by Andrew’s story and wanted to further spread it around campus.
NOVAdance was founded in 2013. The goal was to raise $20,000 with 350 participants.
One year later, NOVAdance had the same financial goal of $20,000 and raised $67,000.
Since then, the organization has blossomed into a notable presence on campus. The student drive to fundraise has become increasingly more passionate and ambitious.
In 2024, NOVAdance raised more than $600,000, a record-breaking total since the organization’s establishment on Villanova’s campus.
Saturday, March 29, 2025 marks the 12th annual NOVAdance dance marathon. The goal: $700,000.
Each year since 2013, the fundraising total has increased on each dance marathon day. However, this trajectory was disturbed by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Villanova students were sent home Friday, March 13, 2020, one week prior to the scheduled dance marathon. Devastated by this unexpected cancellation, the committee members still engaged via Zoom. The final fundraising total was revealed through a video, and the organization broke $502,000 that year.
“Even though it was all virtual and it was on Zoom, people were still stoked,” NOVAdance 2022-23 co-Executive Director Shannon Kauber said. “You could still feel the excitement, the optimism, the positivity just, like, radiating through the screen. It was just the vibe and culture of NOVAdance still all there even though we weren’t all together.”
The following year, the dance marathon took place outside. Participants adhered to the safety precautions put into place to ensure the health and safety of all the B+ Heroes in the midst of the pandemic.
The Villanova Public Safety Department led a car parade in which the heroes and their families engaged with the student body from a safe distance. Then, “Hero Hour,” the hour in which student clubs honor and recognize their paired B+ heroes, took place at a park in Bryn Mawr.
Although the outside venue was unconventional, Villanovans still commented on the positivity emitted throughout the day.
NOVAdance 2022-23 co-Executive Director, Ally Dorsey, noticed a wider campus reach due to the outside activities.
“I personally loved it outside,” Dorsey said. “I thought it was a really cool way to get the whole school involved because people walked around campus and they were, like, ‘What is this?’ Whereas, when you actually have to go into Jake Nevin to figure it out.”
NOVAdance 2023-24 co-Executive Director, Caroline Jukubik, noticed the consistency of the NOVAdance message, regardless of location.
“NOVAdance and the dance marathon really is all about the energy, the setting doesn’t matter as much as the energy and the heart that goes into the day,” Jukubik said. “No matter where it is, it feels the same.”
In 2022, the dance marathon was moved back inside the Jake Nevin Field House for the first time since the pandemic. Jake Nevin has been associated with the dance marathon since it was first hosted there in 2015.
Jake Nevin has seen the different themes of NOVAdance created throughout the years. Each theme is specifically crafted to properly encapsulate the B+ message.
“I think one of the great things about NOVAdance is, I think a lot of our themes typically relate to this idea that there is no limit to your capabilities and the possibilities that lie ahead of you,” Kauber said. “I think it not only sends a great message for our B+ Heroes and their families, but I think it’s just a great reminder for the Villanova community that, like, no matter the struggles you’re going through, there’s always going to be a community behind you just to support you. There’s people that love you.”
Directly relating to that theme of community, this year’s theme is a fitting one: “So No Hero Rides Alone.”
NOVAdance 2023-24 co-Executive Director, Kathryn Scotto, shared how special the B+ Heroes are to this community.
“I could just say time and time again I could hang out with the kids we work with forever,” Scotto said. “They are the most fun, spunky, fantastic, smart, loyal, hilarious, talented people I’ve ever met. And they are also so incredibly strong.”
The heroes remain the center focus of the organization and community.
The 2022-23 and 2023-24 co-Executive Directors have all said they look forward to seeing how this NOVAdance community will grow in the future.
