Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the 2009 Fall Festival at Villanova University! The Fall Festival could not run without the continued support and spirit from all of our dedicated volunteers.

Please be sure to read through this site for volunteer opportunities and check out our orientation powerpoint!

Register Now!

AND SET SAIL FOR FALL FEST!

Come be one of the thousands of volunteers to experience the excitement of volunteering at the Fall Festival:
"At the end of the day, just seeing the smiles on the athletes' faces and seeing them play their hearts out lets you know that you've done the right thing. And the best part is, you have fun while helping out...I look forward to the Festival every year "
-Meet Doshi, Volunteer

Volunteer Nights

Come to our volunteer nights to get more information on specific volunteer opportunities!

On-Campus: Tuesday, September 22nd in Donahue Hall (SPIT) at 7:30pm.

On-Campus: Thursday, September 24th in the Italian Kitchen of Dougherty Hall at 7:30pm.

Off-Campus: Tuesday, September 29th at Radnor High School at 7pm.

General Volunteer Information & FAQ

How do I volunteer?

Volunteering is easy! Just register online, and we'll see you at Villanova University on November 6th, 7th, and/or 8th!

What if I'm registering a group of volunteers?

Then there's a special online registration form just for you! Groups and organizations should fill out the online group registration form if they're registering for multiple people - we understand that you may not currently know the names of all the volunteers in your party.

How do I get to Villanova University?

Directions to Villanova are available here on admission's website, along with detailed and printable maps of the campus.

What time should I arrive to volunteer?

The hours for Volunteer Check-In will begin at 7:30am. Volunteers are given the opportunity to sign up for "time slots" on their registration form that serve as a guide for their volunteering hours. However, volunteers are not limited to these time slots (we'd love to have you all weekend!). Keep in mind that (though rare) some volunteering opportunities will require volunteers to be on campus earlier than the 7:30am check-in time.

Where do I check-in when I get to Villanova?

Volunteer Check-In is located at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse, which is adjacent to the Pavillion and the football stadium. Its entrance faces Lancaster Avenue.

What do I need to bring with me on my volunteer date?

All volunteers must have a valid form of identification when checking in. Villanova students should present their Wildcard apon check-in.

Where can I pick up my famous volunteer t-shirt?
Volunteer t-shirts are our gift to you!  Pick up yours when you register at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse throughout the weekend. Shirts are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Are meals provided?
We all need to eat!  Student volunteers are to use their meal plans. However, individuals coming from off-campus who are volunteering for 5+ hours can pick up a meal voucher at Volunteer Registration.  Go to the East Lounge in Dougherty Hall to redeem these vouchers for a bagged lunch.  Volunteers at Roller Skating can eat the bagged lunches provided at the venue from Villanova, and volunteers at Bocce can eat the hot lunch provided by the Shipley School.  All other volunteers can purchase their own lunches in the Italian Kitchen, Dougherty Dining Hall, Donahue Dining Hall, the Connelly Center, or St. Mary's Dining Hall.

Can I attend opening and closing ceremonies?
Of course! Both Opening and Closing Ceremonies are wonderful events to attend for different reasons and are open to the public.  At Opening Ceremonies, the athletes are bursting with excitement and just being there to witness their joy and welcome them to the Fall Festival is a worthwhile experience.  Closing Ceremonies is special for it is there that ALL the athletes are honored.  We welcome everyone to attend both ceremonies in the Pavilion. Opening Ceremonies is set to begin at 7:30pm on Friday, November 6th, and Closing Ceremonies will begin at 1:00pm on Sunday, November 8th.

What volunteer positions are available and what can I expect?
When you register we ask you to give us preferences as to where and in what capacity you would like to serve as volunteer. We do our absolute best to accomodate all of our volunteers' preferences and provide you with a multitude of volunteer options so that you can have the best festival experience possible. However, due to the size of the event, we cannot guarantee you a specific volunteer position. During the festival there are various demands for volunteers that must be met to ensure safety and security, and those must come first.

You should know that your role first and foremost as a volunteer is to provide encouragement for the athletes.  Your presence at these games means more to them than you will ever know.  All we ask of you is to be prompt, stay at the designated venue for your allotted time and if you must leave, please contact the volunteer coordinator at your specific venue.  At times there may not be much for you to do at your venue, please take this time to cheer on the athletes, talk to their families or ask the volunteer coordinator if anything else needs to be done.

I have a long commute to come volunteer, are there any housing options available to me?
Unfortunately Villanova cannot provide housing to volunteers who wish to stay overnight to volunteer on multiple days. However, we likely will be able to get you a discounted rate in various area hotels. Contact housing@villanovaspo.com for details .

What if I still have questions or concerns?
No problem! If you're coming from off campus, you can e-mail the Off-Campus Volunteers Committee at offcampusvols@villanovaspo.com. Likewise, on-campus volunteers should contact the On-Campus Volunteers Committee at oncampusvols@villanovaspo.com.

"At Villanova, we are blessed to have the opportunity to help create an environment in which our athletes can show us all the true meaning of competition. When the time comes for the Fall Festival in November, our campus transforms into a giant celebration of the athletes, as well as of life, through sports."
-Jared Streppa
Director of Human Resources '09

Thanks for your continued support of Special Olympics at Villanova!

Special Olympics Office l 215 Dougherty Hall l 800 Lancaster Ave l Villanova, PA 19085 l (610) 519-7244 l info@villanovaspo.com