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Monumental Goal, Fitting Celebration
One for the ages
In a testament to the dedication of the Virginia Tech community, an ambitious goal was stretched and then exceeded—and, rightly so, celebrated. Before the Campaign for Virginia Tech: Invent the Future was launched in 2003, the university's fundraising consultants said that an $800 million goal was possible, but cautioned that it would be a stretch.
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Campaign co-chair David Calhoun '79, quiet phase chair Gene Fife '62, President Charles
W. Steger '69, Vice President for Development and University Relations Elizabeth A. Flanagan,
and campaign co-chair John Lawson '75. Not pictured is quiet phase vice-chair Bill Holtzman '59.
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University leaders and volunteers knew something the consultants didn't know and boosted the goal to $1 billion. "We followed our instincts," said President Charles W. Steger. "Our outside experts couldn't know what it's like to be inside the Hokie Nation. They don't know the depths of support our friends and alumni have for this institution. And they had no idea what happens when you challenge the Hokie Nation with a goal.
"What happens is $1.11 billion raised, and a fitting celebratory gala on Nov. 12, 2011, attended by about 1,000 generous donors.
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The Virginia Tech artifacts you cherish
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The same passion for Virginia Tech that led tens of thousands of you to participate in our fundraising campaign has no doubt led many of you to keep mementos of your relationship with the university. Whether it's a ticket stub from the first football game you attended or a copy of that first paper you aced—or even, as is the case with Gene Swartz (business administration '66), the original architectural models for two of our iconic Pylons—we'd love to see the keepsakes you cherish.
Go HERE to upload photos and descriptions of your mementos, and we'll create a page for all to browse.
Meanwhile, if you know the whereabouts of the other six Pylon models—a total of eight models, each one about 30 inches tall, were distributed to the committee members who were charged with developing the War Memorial, which was built between 1951 and 1960—by all means, let us know at vtmag@vt.edu.
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Winter 2011-12
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PHILANTHROPY
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| The campaign touched every corner of campus. In many places, the impact is already evident. Here are but a few samples: |
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| "I equate the university as kind of a human body. The students are the body that we're trying to nourish; the administration, the faculty, and the staff are all the nerves, the bones, the muscle, the blood, and the fiber of that body ... and the library is the heart of that body." |
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| —F. Richard "Dick" Quible (civil engineering '53), who died in 2009, was co-chair of the campaign committee focused on University Libaries. |
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"I felt that to do a good job we needed more support, more things to take care of the students. There's a greater need now than I think there was during my career because obesity is increasing annually."
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| —Dr. Charles W. Schiffert, namesake of the health center on campus and the university's former student health director, made a $1 million commitment to create the Dolores S. Schiffert Health Education Endowment, named for his late wife. It was a record commitment to a program within the Division of Student Affairs. |
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| "I wanted to ensure that there will always be a place for horses within the mid-Atlantic region to be treated when they are critically ill or injured. In terms of equine surgery and internal medicine, I just don't know where you can find better care and knowledge at work." |
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| —Shelley Duke, owner and manager of Rallywood Farm in Middleburg, Va., who pledged a gift of more than $10 million through her estate to Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. |
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| "Dad's passion and lifetime interest in the 4-H program have impacted not only my life but my husband's as well. In the spirit of giving, we are hoping that our contributions ... will help to enrich the lives of our youth and to continue the exceptional work being done at the 4-H Center at Smith Mountain Lake." |
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—Jean Skelton Montague, daughter of the namesake of the W.E. Skelton Educational Conference Center at Smith Mountain Lake, who, with her husband, John Montague, contributed generously toward a new welcome center at the 120-acre facility in Wirtz, Va.
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