FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUG 18, 2025
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA – The University of Providence (UP) will launch a new tradition on Tuesday, August 19 with its inaugural Providencia Day of Service, marking the start of the academic year and honoring the life and legacy of Sister Providencia Tolan. A former UP sociology faculty member, Sister Providencia was a tireless advocate for Native Americans and other marginalized communities, helping to make service learning a cornerstone of the University’s mission.
Before heading into the community, all incoming UP students will gather to learn about the University’s service-oriented heritage, rooted in the mission of the Sisters of Providence — a mission devoted to walking alongside “the last, the least, and the lost.” Faculty and staff will join them at nine service sites across Great Falls, offering students a meaningful first step into a life of community engagement and compassionate leadership.
This year’s service partners include:
- Fresh Rescue Kitchen – Preparing meals for the homeless and processing fresh produce.
- Grace Home – Organizing, deep cleaning, and yard work at transitional housing for unhoused male veterans.
- Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and Food Bank – Organizing the warehouse, cleaning, and assisting with food distribution.
- Angel Room – Cleaning, organizing clothing, and serving food at a homeless drop-in center.
- Grace Haven – Preparing rooms, yard work, and cleaning at transitional housing for unhoused female veterans and their children.
- Harbor House – Stocking food, setting up furniture, and cleaning at a new transitional housing facility for working unhoused men.
- Mercy Home – Outdoor cleanup and landscaping.
“Launching the Providencia Day of Service is our way of ensuring that, from day one, our students experience the deep connection between education and service,” said A.J. Hoy, Vice President for Mission Integration and Student Life. “Sister Providencia Tolan lived this commitment, seeing the dignity in every person and working for justice with compassion. This day invites our newest students to carry forward that legacy.”
Through this immersive experience, first-year students will not only connect with each other and their professors but also begin their UP journey firmly grounded in the University’s core values: Integrity, Dignity, Justice, Compassion, and Excellence.
The University of Providence (UP) is a private, Roman Catholic Liberal Arts University founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Providence. The University of Providence honors the Sisters’ vision today by providing a mission-driven education to those that need it the most. UP is located in Great Falls, Montana and offers both undergraduate and graduate level liberal arts programs and health programs. For more information visit www.uprovidence.edu.
