THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES 6^TH ANNUAL SAINT SERVE DAY

Students, Faculty, and Staff Give Back to the Community by Supporting 52 Regional Organizations

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky., – (Apr. 28, 2026) On April 21, 2026, Thomas More University celebrated its sixth Saints Serve Day – a tradition that unites the University community through service and connection. This marks the first time the University has had two service days in one academic year.

Established in 2021, Saints Serve saw more than 1,100 Thomas More students, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees who opted to take the “day on, rather than a day off” to give back to 52 community nonprofits and civic organizations across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. Normal campus activities were suspended so all traditional students and employees could participate.  

“For 105 years our University has been committed to our Catholic values and traditions, and Saints Serve is an opportunity for our community to make a lasting impact upon others, now and in the future,” said Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D., president of Thomas More University. “This spring’s Saints Serve Day came about thanks to a student suggestion and we’re excited to expand our reach even more by adding another day.”

As a Catholic liberal arts university, Thomas More’s core values—hospitality, humility, service, and stewardship—also known as its Characteristics of a Saint, align perfectly with Saints Serve’s community service.

THE IMPACT OF SERVICE

This year’s participants signed up for activities across a wide variety of organizations including: Be Concerned, Best Point Education and Behavioral Health, Center for Great Neighborhoods, Cincinnati Nature Center, Cincinnati Parks, Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, Devou Park, Disabled American Veterans, Easterseals, Freestore Food Bank, Gorman Heritage Farm, Kenton County Conservation District, Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, Lydia’s House, Madonna House of Northern Kentucky, Matthew 25 Ministries, Middleton-Mills, Milestones Equestrian Achievement Program, Parish Kitchen, Project Linus, Rose Garden Home Mission, St. Vincent de Paul, and Wasson Way Trails.

“I really appreciate everyone who took the time to participate in this spring’s Saints Serve. It was a beautiful day all around and a great way to come together as a community and help others,” said Kelly French, DPA, vice president for strategy and impact and chief of staff. “It’s another way we demonstrate our commitment to our Catholic principles of social teaching and serving others.” 

High-resolution photos from the spring 2026 Saints Serve are available here.

Please see list below for captions. 

1. Volunteers helped organize supplies for people in need at the Rose Garden Home Mission. 
2. Thomas More student athletes in front of the chapel at Matthew 25 Ministries where they sorted supplies. 
3. Botany class students planted a tree on campus. 
4. The football team hit the trail at Middleton-Mills and cleaned up debris.  
5. Volunteers helped organize materials at Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub. 
6. Honeysuckle and other invasive growth were removed from the banks of a campus pond.  
7. Groups helped process and package donations at the Freestore Foodbank. 
8. Participants made Forget-Me-Nots to raise funds and awareness for Disabled American Veterans. 
9. The Easterseals Redwood property was cleaned up thanks to volunteers from the tennis team.

To learn more or become a partner site for the next Saints Serve, please visit tmuky.us/serve. 

About Thomas More University

Founded in 1921, Thomas More University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, challenging students to Make It More. Deeply rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, this timeless foundation supports a transformative educational experience as students looking to Be More are guided in the pursuit of knowledge, ethical leadership, and the integration of faith and reason. Through the high-quality, liberal arts education provided at Thomas More, students examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others which leads to the ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully to the world. Serving more than 2,300 students, Thomas More takes its place as the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, being named one of the 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal. For more, visit thomasmore.edu.