Involvement & Service
Marymount is proud to be known as Arlington’s University! We contribute significantly to the economic development of Arlington County through nearly 600 employees who live, work, play, vote and pay millions of dollars in taxes in Virginia, as well as 4,000-plus students who call Marymount their home. Marymount is deeply committed to service, with students completing over 8,841.5 hours of community service during the 2025-26 school year, generating an economic impact over $327,000.
See below how our Saints are making a difference!
Fostering Community Bonds through Athletics Every summer, Marymount hosts youth camp programs for baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball players, supporting anywhere from 50 to 200 campers from the Arlington community per week. Marymount Athletics also rents out its facilities to a number of groups from the Arlington community, which can practice and compete in the Converse Family Fieldhouse, Recreational Gym, Lee Center Pool and Converse Family Field. Athletics also hosted a campus-wide canned goods drive that resulted in the collection of 4,590 pounds of food. According to Feeding America, each pound of donated food is valued at approximately $1.97, bringing the estimated value of Marymount’s donation to more than $9,000. The collected goods provided vital support to families facing food insecurity across the community. Marymount Athletics also held the inaugural Teddy Bear toss at a home basketball game over the holiday season. The team collected 97 stuffed animals, which were donated to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. In 2026, Marymount Athletics added new service opportunities to its roster in an effort to reach a variety of groups within the community. One such opportunity was a sports day hosted in partnership between Marymount and the Early Learning Academy (ELA) to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 4. This event saw twenty-five female athletes lead over a dozen girls from the ELA in a day of sports events and interactive activities to teach confidence and teamwork. Marymount Athletics also expanded some of its existing community partnerships, including their long-lasting collaboration with the Special Olympics. In addition to the annual Virginia Area 26 Special Olympics basketball tournament that Marymount hosts in the Lee Center – which is scheduled for March 22, 2026, marking its 30th anniversary – this year, Marymount had the honor of hosting its first Special Olympics soccer tournament. This new event welcomed twenty-one Special Olympics teams and relied on the support of more than 100 Marymount student-athlete volunteers who assisted with event operations and athlete support, creating an inclusive and memorable experience for all participants. Marymount Athletics’ dedication to supporting the Special Olympics earned them a third place in the Special Olympics category at the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) Community Service Awards earlier this year.
Addressing Food InsecurityMarymount’s Food for Thought club works to alleviate food insecurity and promote urban agriculture in Arlington. Student volunteers from a variety of disciplines have created an on-campus “Plot Against Hunger” garden and donate the produce grown there to the campus community and the greater Arlington region. Members also collaborate with the St. Andrew’s Church garden, with proceeds donated to local food pantries, and Marymount’s Dining Services, with bagged lunches donated to PathForward (formerly known as the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network).
Fulfilling the Needs of Local Employers Marymount’s Center for Career Development organizes targeted career fairs that engage a variety of employers and community members. As universities nationwide transition from large-scale career fairs and navigate towards a more tailored approach that features smaller career fair formats with industry-specific employers, Marymount has hosted specific fairs for Nonprofits & Service, Business & Technology and Creative career fields. These provide Marymount students with the opportunity to network, connect and speak with employers about available jobs, internships and professional development opportunities. The career center also hosted, in partnership with Virginia Works, a one-day, hands-on summit designed to help displaced federal workers and government contractors navigate career transitions and explore new opportunities across sectors in spring 2026.
Leading the Way on Falls PreventionAs the recipient of two federal grants totaling over $1 million, Marymount has laid the foundation for a falls prevention infrastructure across Northern Virginia. Faculty researchers at the University have played a critical role in training more than 475 people to lead evidence-based falls prevention programs in the area, in addition to holding nearly 200 falls prevention workshops and establishing the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance.
Partnering with Global ChangemakersMarymount is a partner with REACH for Uganda, an organization that aims to improve the quality of life for community members in rural, eastern Uganda and help them realize their potential through education, health care and community development. This partnership has involved many trips to Uganda for Marymount faculty and students, and has even led to a prestigious award from the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program.
Providing Proactive Physical TherapyMarymount’s Physical Therapy program spearheads numerous service learning opportunities and community outreach efforts. These include an annual service trip to Latin America to provide physical therapy services to underserved populations abroad, and much more! In December 2025, the DPT program also organized a trip to Arlington National Cemetery to participate in the annual wreath laying ceremony run by Wreaths Across America.
Supporting Remote Area Medical Clinics Nursing and Physical Therapy students regularly put their knowledge and skills to the test at Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinics in the national capital region and further afield in areas like Appalachia, where they provide free medical, dental, vision and physical therapy services to the impoverished, isolated and underserved.
Sharing the Spirit of Service Spirit of Service Scholars develop long-lasting partnerships with agencies addressing a variety of community needs including food insecurity, homelessness, educational support for at-risk youth and social justice initiatives. As leaders and mentors who exemplify what it means to Learn with Purpose, Spirit of Service Scholars collaborate with each other to generate and share creative and meaningful experiences through volunteerism and serving the greater good.
Using Education to Give Back Marymount’s Camp Heal provides hands-on summer camp for curious middle schoolers who want to explore healthcare careers, learn life-saving skills, and have fun on a college campus, and Camp Santos: Rec N’ Read provides a three-week summer camp designed to improve bilingual literacy skills among elementary school children in Arlington.
Serving from the HeartMarymount’s Campus Ministry participates in annual Alternative Spring Break trips where students experience various types of service including simple service (construction, cleaning, cooking, etc.) as well as relational service, such as spending time and sharing life with those they come in contact with.
