On Saturday, March 29, members of the Villanova community, families and individuals from far and wide packed under the roof of Jake Nevin for one goal: raise money FTK (for the kids) and raise money for families fighting the brave fight against childhood cancer. The cheers from Jake Nevin this past weekend as the seniors of NOVAdance committee revealed the NOVAdance total were loud enough to be heard coast-to-coast.
This year’s NOVAdance – the 12th annual event in its history – saw the organization successfully meet its goal of raising $700,000 and in fact surpass it, with a final total of $708,269.10 raised for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. That final total means that there has been more than a $100,000 increase since last year’s day-of, which raised just over $600,000, a feat the committee has been working towards for the past year and a historic increase overall.
Finally, after a year of social media promotion, countless fundraising emails, merch sales and many an hour spent tabling outside, NOVAdance – from members of Morale Committee (MoCo) to Sidekicks to Recruitment to HR to its two Executive Directors – successfully passed their fundraising goal for a truly great cause.
“[We’ve] been rallying around the goal of $700,000 since the beginning of the school year, and to see all other members of the NOVAdance community rally in a similar way all the way up until 10 p.m. on the day of the Dance Marathon was the greatest portrayal of community I have seen at Villanova,” MoCo Chair Sam Blume said. “Villanova students are go-getters just as much outside of the classroom as within it, and for each of us to develop an understanding of a cause like pediatric cancer, some of us having direct relationships with the subject and some of us not, was a really beautiful way of showing how we can use our power to make a difference for those who can’t.”
Year after year, the B+ Foundation assists families in need of financial assistance while a child battles pediatric cancer, pairing B+ Heroes (pediatric cancer patients) with different Greek life and student organizations at Villanova and countless other colleges to foster a sense of hope and happiness in the hardest part of their lives.
At Villanova, this includes everything from social media fundraising to different themed hours on the “Day Of,” like various on-campus musical groups performing to the annual Lip Sync competition, won by Alpha Phi Omega for the third consecutive year. The bottom line? Those organizations do whatever they can both leading up to and on the “Day Of” NOVAdance to raise spirits and raise as much money as possible for the Heroes and their familes.
“We have 17 B+ heroes who have been diagnosed with cancer and who are paired with organizations on campus,” Family Relations Co-Chair Carissa Van Veen said in an interview with The Villanovan last week. “Our role is really to oversee peer liaisons from each organization who are paired with those heroes and get to know them, their family and really bring them into the Villanova community to be a support system.”
Traditionally, the seniors on the NOVAdance committee participate in the reveal, when the total fundraising number is shared with the attendees on stage right before 10 p.m. Final donations are typically received up until 9:45 p.m. each year on the “Day Of,” to maximize donations brought in.
This year was also the first year in NOVAdance’s history that the committee shared its goal of $700,000 or more, in hopes of bolstering support for the B+ Foundation.
“Turning around and seeing Haley Smith hold up that ‘7’ filled me with more emotions than I could describe,” Blume said. “But among those was immense pride in the Villanova community, limitless hope for all NOVAdance could become in the time after I graduate, and the utmost amount of positivity for the amount of families and Heroes that would be impacted by our support.”
Students across all sections of NOVAdance involvement were thrilled at the long-awaited reveal to see that this goal had been met. Throughout the year, these various groups planned and participated in fundraising efforts, all culminating in the day of and making true the plans committee members set in motion months ago, amongst them Operations Team member Pat Cregan.
“Seeing big smiles on the faces of our B+ heroes, their families and all the marathon participants filled my heart with so much joy,” Cregan said. “There is so much work behind the scenes that goes into executing the NOVAdance marathon and seeing those smiles makes it all worth it.
Blume, in her last year as a member of NOVAdance, agreed.
“I truly believe that Villanova is a magical place, as never in my life have I seen such a large concentration of students that are so eager to serve others and devote so much time to doing so,” Blume said. “As someone who does not have a personal connection to cancer, I consider myself truly lucky and privileged to be able to support a cause that many people [do] relate to through family members, friends and even themselves, and it has become so important to me through my work with NOVAdance that I am able to use this privilege to advocate for others.”
The NOVAdance committee took to Instagram on Monday, March 31 to both share the good news and to thank all who came out Saturday, March 29.
“708,269.10. NOVAdance helped 708 families in the fight against childhood cancer,” the post read. “From everyone at NOVAdance, thank you to those who danced, fundraised, and supported us on Saturday. We could not have had this record-breaking year without your help.”
Along with this post shared by the committee, the B+ Foundation also took to its Instagram to congratulate NOVAdance on a job well done.
“Please join us in congratulating the 2025 NOVAdance Committee Co-Executive Directors – Laine Aries and Jack Doolin, Advisor – Jack Sherwood, and the entire NOVAdance community on this impressive accomplishment,” the B+ Foundation shared.
Now, with the big day over, committee members like Cregan hope Villanovans take away the scope and scale of the organization, as anyone involved with NOVAdance knows it’s more than one day in March.
“I hope the Villanova community saw the monumental impact they can have on children and families in need,” Cregan said. “Not only does NOVAdance provide financial support, but emotional support as well. At events like the dance marathon, our B+ heroes and families get a break from their daily hardships and are embraced with love and care. Everyone deserves to live a cancer free life, and NOVAdance and the B+ Foundation give children the opportunity to do just that – but it can’t be done without the presence and passion of the Villanova community.”
This year was another year of the $100,000 increase streak, a testament to the growth and development of NOVAdance and support on campus. And if the last three years of an over $200,000 increase are any indication, more success can be expected for the 13th annual. But, the happiness from the 12th annual won’t be disappearing anytime soon. For some members of its committee, they hope one day the need to raise money will disappear and instead, finally, a cure will be found.
“The joy that could be heard through cheers, seen through tears, and felt through hugs of the Villanova community on Saturday after our final reveal is a testament to the beauty of service and how it feels to contribute to easing the hardships of 708 families,” Blume said. “In the years of NOVAdance to come, I have so much faith that the Villanova community will take this organization to new heights until one day, we no longer have to dance for a cure.”
