Everyone knew Virginia Tech’s inaugural Giving Day — held March 20–21, 2018 — would entail a great deal of work. But few expected it to be so much fun.


“The Hokie spirit was alive and well on Giving Day,” says Rosemary Blieszner, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.


The first to show his spirit was Jerry Hulick, who graduated in 1973 with a political science degree. Soon after Giving Day was announced, Hulick became the university’s first graduate to offer a challenge grant. He ended up awarding the college two challenge grants totaling $10,000. With his help, the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences garnered the highest overall participation in the entire university, for which it received a $1,000 challenge grant from Vice President for Advancement Charlie Phlegar.


Blieszner in turn issued dean’s challenges to the college’s departments and schools, for both amount raised and total number of donors. The Marching Virginians, a School of Performing Arts ensemble, marched into first place on both challenge grants. But the entire college community pitched in, all to an incredible result. The college raised more than $101,000 from 805 gifts.


“With this first-ever Giving Day, we’ve raised more than funds for our programs,” Blieszner says. “We’ve also inspired a broader appreciation of the power of philanthropy to strengthen our college and all it offers our students, our community, and the world.”


Giving Day 2019 will be held March 19–20. Visit givingday.vt.edu to learn more.