Virginia Tech employees donate $344,013 to community through state-wide giving campaign

16 Jan 2017

Ten members of the Virginia Tech Police Department run along a track in the rain. — Ten members of the Virginia Tech Police Department ran a 24-hour relay to raise funds for the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign. Kevin Foust, chief of police and director of security, also served as the honorary chair of the 2016 campaign.

Virginia Tech employees have once again exemplified the Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) spirt and demonstrated their commitment to the community by raising $344,013 for those in need.

More than 1,400 employees donated to the 2016 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, raising $344,013, which surpassed the $325,000 goal. This year’s total is an increase of $24,349 over what was raised last year and is the most Virginia Tech employees have ever raised during the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.

Since 2010, Virginia Tech employees have given more than $2 million to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a workplace-giving program that allows state employees to donate money to any of more than 1,000 participating charities.

Employees donated to more than 300 organizations. The three organizations that received the highest number of designated donations are

$17,844 to the United Way of Montgomery, Radford, and Floyd;
$17,543 to the Free Clinic of the New River Valley (Community Health Center of the New River Valley);
$16,712 to the Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley.

In addition to individual employee gifts, more than a dozen departments across the university held fundraisers. Some of the many events included silent auctions held by the Office of the Vice President for Finance and CFO and the College of Agriculture and Life Science, which raised $1,040 and $839, respectively; lemonade stands sponsored by the Pamplin College of Business, which raised $7,866; potluck luncheons held by a variety of departments in the Division of Administrative Services that collectively raised more than $1,200; and a 24-hour relay by the Virginia Tech Police Department, which raised $4,948.

Written by Katie Huger, employee communications manager.