When Jerry Hulick studied political science in the early 1970s, he was in Virginia Tech’s College of Arts and Sciences. Decades later, when the college divided into two, Hulick remained loyal to both colleges. And he is demonstrating that devotion by issuing Giving Day challenges for both.

Hulick was the first Hokie to commit to being a challenge donor for the university’s inaugural Giving Day. Taking the theme “Spring Forward,” the 24-hour online fundraiser will begin at noon on March 20, the first day of spring.

Hulick will donate $5,000 to the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences if 300 donors make a gift to any fund within the college. If more than 500 participate, his contribution will be $10,000.

Hulick has also issued College of Science challenges. These include a $5,000 challenge if 25 current students and/or young alumni from each of the college’s eight departments, the School of Neuroscience, and the Academy of Integrated Science participate in the Giving Day effort, for a total of 250 participants. He will also donate $2,500 to the college’s annual fund in recognition of the departmental or program fund with the highest number of donors on Giving Day, and $2,500 to the college’s annual fund in recognition of the departmental or program fund with the most dollars raised on Giving Day.

“Issuing these challenge grants is my way of paying it forward and motivating people to action,” said Hulick. “For me, giving back represents a constancy of spirit, to recognize the importance of Virginia Tech as part of who I am.”

Hulick has long led by example through his service and philanthropy to Virginia Tech. He was an inaugural member and past chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Roundtable Advisory Board, and he remains active on both the Dean’s Roundtable of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and the College of Science Roundtable.

A member of Virginia Tech’s Ut Prosim Society of donors, Hulick chaired the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences committee for the Campaign for Virginia Tech, participated in the university’s national campaign steering committee, and has served on the Virginia Tech Foundation Board.

Yet Virginia Tech is not Hulick’s only driving passion. He is also an avid supporter of people with special needs. In 2004, he started The Washington Group Special Care Planning Team, specializing in financial planning for people with special needs. A decade later, he founded the Caring Consulting Group. There he provides consulting services to nonprofit organizations, businesses, and educational institutions with the mission of enhancing the quality of life of people with special needs and their caregivers.

Hulick has brought his two passions together through his support of the Virginia Tech Center for Autism Research. He serves on the center’s Community Advisory Board, has twice sponsored the Virginia Tech Autism Research Symposium in Northern Virginia, and has established the Autism Center Excellence Fund. He has also created the Serving Spirit Graduate Fellowship to support graduate students interested in helping people with special needs and the Hulick Endowed Scholarship for Leadership, Friendship, and Service to support undergraduates who plan to go into the field.

After earning his own degree in 1973, Hulick went on to earn Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from The American College of Financial Services, and he was one of the country’s first financial experts to receive the Chartered Special Needs Consultant designation.

Hulick has spent more than 40 years in the financial services industry, including a role as general agent of The Washington Group of MassMutual from 1986 to 2004, when he led his agency to earn the company’s highest honors for production and brokerage development.

In 2014, Hulick received the Eleanor Sue Finkelstein Award, which recognizes a commitment to the special needs community of Northern Virginia. In 2016, he was named a member of the College of Science Hall of Distinction.

Want to help unlock Jerry Hulick’s giving challenges? Join in with a gift to the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, the College of Science, or both on Virginia Tech’s Giving Day, from March 20 at noon to March 21 at noon, Eastern Standard Time.

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