Hokie Nation rises to the challenge once again

The following is an open letter to Virginia Tech employees from Alan Grant, honorary chair of the 2012 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.

Dear Colleagues,

Once again, the Hokie Nation has demonstrated that Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) isn’t just Virginia Tech’s motto, it’s our way of life.

Over the last few months, the university has been asking for donations for the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, and once again, you rose to the challenge.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 1,400 of our colleagues, we raised $285,294 that will have a very real impact on the lives of Virginians and others around the world. For the fourth year in a row, Virginia Tech employees rose to the challenge and increased their giving. This year's total reflects an increase of almost $80,000 more than we raised in 2009.

This is a great accomplishment, and I want to thank you for all that you did. Take a moment to think about all the good that will come from your contributions.

Because of your donations, there are children who won’t go hungry tonight.

Because of your donations, a volunteer pilot can fly a person with unique medical needs to a specialized hospital.

Because of your donations, dogs will be trained to help the blind.

Because of your donations, we are one step closer to solving cancer and multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s, among other diseases. The list of people and charities that benefited from your generosity is immense.

Take pride in the fact that we were able to do so much for so many around us. Take pride in being a Hokie.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Alan Grant

Honorary Chair, 2012 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign
Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences