Villanova University held its annual day of giving, 1842 Day, on Tuesday for the ninth consecutive year with the day named for the year of Villanova’s founding. While donations were available to directly go to academic causes and the areas of greatest need on Villanova’s campus, a variety of varsity-level sports, more than 70 student organizations and clubs that were available for donations might have rung truer for students to donate to, with these organizations ranging from student life organizations to Greek Life to club sports.
The day provided no shortage of opportunities for Villanovans to raise money for their causes and clubs on campus, including “Cat Cabs” to answer Villanova trivia in a titular Cat Cab on a ride around campus to raise money for a certain cause or club of their choosing and Oreo Dunk, which is playing a Plinko-like game at the Riley Ellipse for the chance to win different Villanova gear and prizes.
The day will also benefit “Espiritus Nova,” the largest fundraising effort in the University’s history to raise $1.25 billion for Villanova, with all donations made on 1842 Day going towards the campaign.
“1842 Day is Villanova’s day of giving,” a statement by the University on the 1842 Day website read. “It’s your opportunity to show pride and gratitude for the impact Villanova has on each of us, in our communities and around the world. Villanovans can make a gift of any size to the area(s) they are passionate about. Your gift on 1842 Day also contributes to Espiritus Nova. The Campaign for Villanova University [and through] this campaign, we will strengthen our academic preeminence, enrich our campus and amplify our collective Augustinian Catholic impact – across the nation and around the world.”
1842 Day is also just one of many avenues people have to give back to Villanova, with others including the Senior Class Gift, the Phonathon Program or setting a recurring donation to Villanova year-round.
More information can be found on Villanova’s website, under the Villanova Annual Fund page.
The University raised more than $8.1 million from 9,341 different donors during last year’s 1842 Day, shattering a goal of 8,000 donors total.
This year, the University hoped to set that donation and donor total even higher than before.
“To me, 1842 Day is a day that serves to show what the Villanova community truly has to offer,” senior Daniel Kee said, “and how Villanova‘s core values of caritas, veritas and unitas serve as avenues to give back to our community from both students and alumni alike. It’s one of the days on campus where I see the most Villanova pride.”
Student clubs and organizations also tabled at the Quad, outside Sheehan and Sullivan Hall, where the band, dance and cheer teams performed, as well as a number of different on-campus vocal and dance groups.
Organizations provided snacks and prizes for donations, while also leading various activities and handing out information to Villanova students on how to become more involved within their group on campus.
This student organization-focused event also included the “Power Hour” from 6 to 7 p.m. During this specific hour, each organization received an additional link and QR code, and based on a tier of involvement scale from small, medium and large-scaled organizations (based on the number of students within its general body), the top groups in each tier based on the amount of donors that gave money towards them, earned a bonus in the form of $500 towards their organizational budget.
The way they get that bonus, however, comes in a variety of creative and entertaining ways. For Kee, also the Vice President of Villanova’s Korean Student Association (KSA), that comes in the form of KSA giving out a sweet treat.
“Our club is working to raise money for various cultural activities and events that we plan to host on campus to promote diversity,” Kee said. “So we are passing out Boba to every single person who donates to our organization on 1842 Day. While this also serves [as an] initiative for people to donate it also gets people to understand who we are as an organization and what we do, we see 1842 today as a way to not only get back to the Villanova community but to promote what Villanova truly has to offer.”
The ninth 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.
