Avila Celebrates 100 Years with 10,000 Hours of Service

Avila Celebrates 100 Years with 10,000 Hours of Service

There are many ways an organization celebrates 100 years. Often it is a celebration focused on itself. But for Avila University, “serving the dear neighbor without distinction,” is more than a mission statement, in fact, it has been their founding principle for a century.

On April 9, which was the 100^th day of its 100^th year, Avila University held its Third Annual Dear Neighbor Day. That morning 220 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends answered the mission call. The volunteers assisted 23 community wide service sites, including Boys Hope Girls Hope, Community Assistance Council, Kansas City Hospice House and area retirement centers including Timberlake and Villa Ventura.

University spokesman, Priscilla Subramaniyam, says Dear Neighbor Day serves the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who founded the university. “At Avila we want to develop the students spiritually not just academically. Hosting a community-wide service day on the 100^th day of Avila’s 100^th year is a great way to honor our heritage,” she said.

To further celebrate a Century of Inspiration, Avila has created a university-wide service challenge, Mission 100, where more than 100 students, faculty, staff, alumni, board members, donors and friends have committed to completing 100 hours of service in this 100^th year, which is equivalent to 10,000 hours of service to the dear neighbor in 2016. According to Subramaniyam, so far 135 have committed to the Mission 100 service challenge, which will surpass more than 10,000 hours of community service. The challenge is to be completed by year end.

To learn more about Avila’s centennial activities throughout the year, visit their website at avila.edu.

Photos courtesy Avila University.