Ways to Get Involved: A Guide for Parents & Families

No matter where you call home—the East Coast, the West Coast, overseas, or anywhere in between—you can play an active role in the life of the College. Parents and families are vital members of our community, and there are many meaningful ways to get involved.  Below is a guide designed to help you stay connected and engaged during your student's time at Haverford and beyond.

Attend Family & Friends Weekend

Family & Friends Weekend (FFW) offers a lively and immersive way to experience life at Haverford. Held annually each fall semester, FFW invites parents and families to experience authentic classes, cheer on the Fords at athletic events, connect with faculty and administrators, and explore what’s happening on campus. You’ll also have the chance to meet members of the Parent Leadership Council, network with other families—and, of course, spend quality time with your student.To learn more about FFW, please visit https://www.haverford.edu/family-and-friends/news/family-friends-weekend-2025.

Be a Career Connector

Career Connectors are volunteers who work in partnership with the Center for Career and Professional Advising (CCPA) to help build valuable bridges between Haverford’s alumni and family community and current students seeking career guidance and opportunities. As a Career Connector, you can share your expertise, offer insights from your professional journey, support students as they explore potential paths, or open the door for students to pursue an internship or career opportunity at your current employer. This volunteer opportunity is flexible, you can do it remotely, and you can schedule a time that works for you and the student. 

As a Career Connector volunteer, you’ll also stay engaged through exclusive updates and a newsletter featuring CCPA programs, student success stories, and upcoming ways to get involved. To express your interest in becoming a Career Connector, or see a full listing of volunteer types, please complete our volunteer interest form.

Host or Help Organize an Event in Your Region

Do you have access to a space that could host a Haverford event? Whether it’s a small gathering at your home or a larger event at your workplace, we’re always looking for new venues to bring the Fords community together. We also welcome volunteers to help plan and organize these events. Some gatherings are just for parents and families, while others include alumni and friends of the College. To volunteer to host or help with an event, or see a full listing of volunteer types, please complete our volunteer interest form.

Support the Student Experience

The Parent & Family Fund supports the student experience by enriching academics, creating opportunities for student-faculty research, providing for increased student co-curricular activities on campus, and sustaining student financial aid. Plus, the Parent & Family Fund can help the College to respond quickly to emerging needs and challenges. All families are encouraged to make a gift each school year. If you are able to make a gift of $1,833 or more this year, please consider joining the 1833 Society. The president of the College hosts special receptions at Family & Friends Weekend and at Alumni Weekend. To support the student experience, please visit hav.to/parentfund.

Join the Parent Leadership Council

The Parent Leadership Council (PLC) is a leadership-level volunteer committee of parents & families who work closely with the Institutional Advancement team. Members are active volunteers, advisors, ambassadors, and philanthropic supporters of the College. As such, they are asked to make an annual gift of $10,000 or more. To learn more about PLC membership, please contact Jill Miller, Director of Parent & Family Giving, at jmiller3 [at] haverford.edu.

Thank you for considering ways to be involved! Questions? Please email us at hc-families [at] haverford.edu.