Villanova has a formal two year partnership with Team IMPACT. known

The Athletics Department at Villanova University is pleased to announce a formal two-year partnership with Team IMPACT, a national non-profit that brings children in the local community with serious illness or disabilities together with college sports teams to help manage emotional trauma and social isolation, which they experience because of their medical diagnosis.

Villanova Athletics and Team IMPACT have been closely linked for years and through this new formal partnership we look forward to strengthening the existing program, adding new games and maintaining our current level of mutual support to achieve our common mission and goals.

“This is an exciting day for Team IMPACT and the families of pediatric patients in the Philadelphia area. The Villanova Wildcats have welcomed the children of Team IMPACT to their teams for years and this is an important next step, “said Josh Walker, Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Region for Team IMPACT. “This partnership is a testament to Villanova’s commitment to both children with life changing diagnoses and the growth of their own student athletes. Thanks a lot to Mark Jackson and the entire sports department to create a culture of empathy that helps develop courage and resilience in the children who need it most. “

Currently, Villanova Athletics has four existing games on Team IMPACT – women’s basketball, men’s tennis, soccer and the Villanova dance team. Previous games were played in the areas of volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s basketball and soccer.

The autumn semester 2021 was especially special for our athletics community to welcome personal events again and to organize Team IMPACT Signing Days on campus. To date, three Team IMPACT games have been officially welcomed to our cadres in the Team IMPACT Signing Days on campus since August 2021. Villanova Football officially added Anthony Hotham to the Wildcat roster in August; Sarah Pliner was officially signed to the Villanova Dance Team in September and Connor Evans was welcomed to the Villanova Men’s Tennis roster in October.

“We are incredibly excited and honored to be partnering with Team IMPACT for a true ‘win-win’ partnership. The joy, inspiration, and compassion shared between our student athletes and staff and our Team IMPACT games are one mutually beneficial relationship that serves as a cornerstone of our commitment to service with Villanova Athletics, “said Mark Jackson, Vice President and Head of Athletics. “Our entire community looks forward to building on a wonderful friendship.”

As already announced in June 2021, Mark Jackson, Vice President and Director of Athletics has been selected to lead the Athletic Advisory Board for Team IMPACT. This honorary board consists of a diverse group of sports and administrative professionals who will help Team IMPACT guide and support the unique needs of student athletes and coaches participating with Team IMPACT across the country.

About Team IMPACT: Team IMPACT, headquartered in Boston, MA, is a national not for profit that connects children with severe illness or disabilities with college sports teams to forge lifelong bonds and life changing outcomes. In just 10 years, Team IMPACT has brought together more than 2,300 children at more than 700 colleges and universities in 49 states and reached more than 65,000 student athletes. To learn more about Team IMPACT, or if you know a child aged 6-16 who could benefit from being a member of the Team, visit www.teamimpact.org and @goteamimpact.

About Villanova Athletics: Villanova University has a long and storied track and field history, characterized by excellence in both competition and teaching. The Villanova Athletics Department is a community of student-athletes, coaches and staff whose primary focus is on achieving academic excellence while creating teams and individuals who are committed to athletic competition and excellence. Villanova Athletics sponsors 24 college sports that collectively include more than 550 student athletes. Villanova is a member of the BIG EAST Conference, CAA Football, the Colonial Athletic Association (rowing) and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (water polo).