Thaddeus & Polly Seymour Acts of Kindness Day

2024 Schedule of Events (subject to change)

Wednesday, February 14

Get a Head Start on Kindness

5 – 7 p.m. | Bush Lawn
This year, we’re getting the goodwill going early. Stop by Bush Lawn on Wednesday evening to share and receive a message of kindness.

Thursday, February 15

Blood Drive

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Holt Ave. near Bush Lawn
OneBlood’s Big Red Bus will be on campus all day. Please consider donating if you’re able to do so and bring your friends and family along to increase your lifesaving impact.

Jars for Tars Collection Drive

All Day | Kathleen W. Rollins Hall — 1st Floor Lobby and Fox Den
Swing by KWR Hall and make a donation to the newly expanded Tars Pantry. Rollins’ on-campus food pantry is accepting all non-perishable goods, new and gently used business attire, and perishable goods with a long shelf-life.

Polly’s Book Drive

All Day | Kathleen W. Rollins Hall — 1st Floor Lobby and Fox Den
Help support a lifelong love of reading just like Polly Seymour by donating new or gently used books for young children during this all-day book drive. Your donation will benefit children at Welbourne Day Nursery and Winter Park Day Nursery.

Share a Message of Kindness

8:30 – 10 a.m. | Tars Plaza
Join forces with student representatives from Omicron Delta Kappa to decorate campus with messages of kindness and support. Grab a free coffee and doughnut to get your day started off on the right foot.

Labyrinth Peace Walks

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Behind the Mr. Rogers Sculpture
Join the Rev. Shawn Garvey, Interim Dean of Religious & Spiritual Life, for an interactive labyrinth walk in which you’ll focus on how to spread kindness in our community and beyond.

12 Bell Salute

12:12 p.m. | Knowles Memorial Chapel
Keep your ears perked at 12:12 p.m. because the Knowles Memorial Chapel bell will ring a dozen times in honor of Rollins’ 12th president.

Pathways of Kindness: 5-Minute Difference Projects

12:30 – 2 p.m. | Tars Plaza and Mills Lawn
Grab a Kindness Passport and collect stamps as you complete 10 different 5-Minute Difference projects that will range from creating birthday bags for pediatric patients to assembling hygiene packs for victims of domestic violence. If you collect six or more stamps, you’ll recieve a T-shirt and be entered into a drawing for a goodie bag. Projects will be hosted by the following student and campus organizations: Breaking Bread and Sodexo, Omicron Delta Kappa, Student Government Association, JUMP Service Coordinators, Bonner Leaders, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Gateway Ambassadors, and Psi Chi. 

Tars Pantry Grand Opening

2:30 p.m. | Kathleen W. Rollins Hall — Room 139
Help celebrate the grand opening of the new Tars Pantry. Rollins’ Student Support Foundation in partnership with the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement recently recieved a Dream Big Grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation to expand the food pantry into a comprehensive wellness space that will provide members of the Rollins community with everything from perishable and non-perishable food to hygiene products and school essentials. Don’t forget to bring your donations of non-perishable goods, new and gently used business attire, and perishable goods with a long shelf-life

Habitat for Humanity Build

3 – 5 p.m. | Meet in front of the Knowles Memorial Chapel
President Seymour served as co-founder and chairman of Habitat for Humanity Winter Park, so grab a hammer in Thad’s honor and work on a local build near campus. Projects during this SGA-hosted event will vary and are dependent on the needs at the time of build. All supplies and transportation will be provided. This event does have a capacity limit and requires an RSVP.
Sign up now

Friday, February 16

Good Neighbor Series: Stand Up For Children

6:30 p.m. | Rice Family Pavilion
If you enjoyed Acts of Kindness Day, consider extending that kindness as a good neighbor. Sharon Carnahan, Rollins psychology professor and executive director of the Hume House Child Development & Student Research Center, will deliver a keynote address as part of the Good Neighbor Series. The event promises to inspire and empower you to become an even better partner to children in Central Florida.

A Legacy of Love

Learn more about how Thaddeus inspired this celebration of service.

His Goodness Goes Viral

The life of Rollins’ 12th president, Thaddeus Seymour ’82HAL ’90H, is a testament to that which he held most dear: kindness. Now the College declares a day in his honor—a day for us all to come together and sprinkle a little bit of the magic that was so distinctively Thad.
Read More on Rollins360

Remembering Thaddeus Seymour

The Rollins community shares favorite memories of its beloved 12th President.
Read More on Rollins360

In Memory: Thaddeus Seymour ’82HAL ’90H

President Seymour was magical in every sense of the word.
Read More on Rollins360