The Villanova University Athletics Department is pleased to announce a formal two-year partnership with Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit organization that pairs children in the local community who have serious illnesses or disabilities with collegiate athletic teams to help tackle emotional trauma and social isolation experienced because of their medical diagnosis.
 
Villanova Athletics and Team IMPACT have been closely connected for years and through this new formal partnership look forward to strengthening existing programming, adding new matches, and maintaining our current level of mutual support for achieving 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 been welcoming Team IMPACT children onto their teams for years and this is an important next step," stated Josh Walker, Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Region for Team IMPACT. "This partnership is a showcase of Villanova's commitment both to children living with life-altering diagnoses and to the growth of their own student-athletes. Thank you to Mark Jackson and the entire athletic department for creating a culture of empathy that is helping develop courage and resiliency in the children who need it most."

Currently, Villanova Athletics has four existing matches through Team IMPACT - Women's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Football, and the Villanova Dance Team. Previous matches have been made on Volleyball, Women's Soccer, Men's Basketball and Football.
 
The fall 2021 semester has been particularly special for our athletics community, to welcome back in-person events and host on-campus Team IMPACT Signing Days. To date, three Team IMPACT matches were officially welcomed to our rosters in on-campus Team IMPACT Signing Days since August 2021. Villanova Football officially signed 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 squad in October. 

"We are incredibly excited and honored to align 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 matches is a mutually beneficial relationship that has served as a cornerstone of our commitment to service with Villanova Athletics," stated Mark Jackson, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Our entire community looks forward to building upon a wonderful friendship."

As was previously announced in June 2021, Mark Jackson, Vice President and Director of Athletics was selected to lead the Athletic Advisory Board for Team IMPACT. This volunteer Board is made up of a diverse group of athletic and administrative professionals who will help ensure Team IMPACT guides and supports the unique needs of student-athletes and coaches who participate across the country with Team IMPACT.

About Team IMPACT: Headquartered in Boston, MA, Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit that connects children facing serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. In just 10 years, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children at 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, reaching 65,000+ student-athletes. To learn more about Team IMPACT, or if you know a child, age 6-16, who could benefit from becoming a member of the team, get in the game at www.teamimpact.org and @goteamimpact.
 
 
About Villanova Athletics: Villanova University has a long and storied athletics history defined by excellence both in competition and in the classroom.  The Villanova Athletics Department is a community of student-athletes, coaches and staff whose primary focus is to achieve academic excellence, while striving to produce teams and individuals committed to athletic competition and outstanding performance.  Villanova Athletics sponsors 24 varsity sports, which together include more than 550 student-athletes.  Villanova is a member of the BIG EAST Conference, CAA Football, Colonial Athletic Association (Rowing) and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (Water Polo).