Employees challenged to donate $325,00 during 2014 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign
In the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech employees are being asked this year to help others in the community by increasing their giving to the state-wide 2014 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.
In 2013, employees donated $311,215, exceeding the $300,000 goal. This year's goal is $325,000. The campaign kicked off on September 24 and continues through December 12.
"I deeply believe each one of us has a responsibility to give back to the communities in which we live and work and to the wider community to which we all belong," said Robert T. Sumichrast, dean of the Pamplin College of Business. Sumichrist is the honorary chair of the 2014 campaign.
Employees may make a tax deductible gift online through payroll deduction or via paper pledge form and may choose to designate their gift to any of the 1,000 participating charities. Types of charities include health and human services, animal welfare, environmental conservation, and medical research. Employees can make individual gifts or come together in departments and offices across the university to host events and activities to raise funds for the campaign.
“Giving to others is what Virginia Tech’s mission calls us to do,” said Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs. "Donating to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is one of the ways we honor our university’s land grant history and demonstrate our commitment to service."
Employees may also donate at the University Bookstore (on-campus) or Volume Two Bookstore (off-campus) by making a small cash donation at the register. Last year, customers donated more than $3,000 to the campaign through this program. Virginia Tech Services, which operates both bookstores, matched the donation, giving an additional $3,000 to the campaign.
As an added bonus this year, employees who give online will be entered in a drawing to win one of the following prizes,
- A set of four one-day park hopper passes to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (online gifts must be received before October 15). Note: This is a state-wide drawing.
- One of two pairs of tickets to the Virginia Tech vs. Boston College football game on November 1 in Lane Stadium (online gifts must be received before October 17).
- One of two pairs of tickets to the Virginia Tech vs. Radford University men's basketball game on December 7 in Cassell Coliseum (online gifts must be received before November 24).
Signs will be placed on West Campus Drive, Southgate Drive, Alumni Mall, and Perry Street on the university's Blacksburg, Virginia campus. The thermometers on the signs and the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign website will be updated regularly to show the total dollars raised to date.
During the last five years, Virginia Tech employees have donated a combined total of more than $1.3 million to hundreds of local organizations through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.
Organizations receiving the highest level support from Virginia Tech employees in 2013 included the Free Clinic of the New River Valley; the United Way of Montgomery, Radford, and Floyd; and the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley.
Hundreds of other organizations received support as well.
"Participating in the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is an easy way to show that support," said Sherwood G. Wilson, vice president for administration and honorary chair of the 2013 campaign. "The CVC helps organizations that are making a difference in your community whether it is feeding those without, helping children learn, or fulfilling other important missions."
Learn more about the impact these donations have on the community.
The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign at Virginia Tech is administered by the university’s Department of Human Resources with the help of a steering team of employees from across the university.
