Virginia Tech alumni, fans help Hokie Club set new giving mark

Overall giving reaches $47.7 million, as Drive for 25 initiative continues bringing in new members

April 11, 2018

BLACKSBURG – Record-setting financial figures for the Hokie Club are becoming an annual event in Blacksburg. Overall giving to the Hokie Club approached $48 million based on the most recent benefit giving cycle that concluded March 31, 2018, shattering the previous record of $33 million set only a year ago.

The Hokie Club and Tech student-athletes once again benefitted from the generous support of Tech alumni and fans. Thanks to the continued momentum of The Drive For 25 campaign spearheaded by Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer and several major gifts, overall giving increased nearly $15 million over the $33 million raised over the previous giving cycle. Nearly 2,000 Hokie Club members opted to give at the 110 percent level, going above and beyond their previous year’s gift.

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Of the record $47.7 million overall giving total for the cycle ending March 31, 2018, approximately $16.8 million was designated to the Hokie Scholarship Fund to be utilized specifically for scholarships for deserving student-athletes, up from $16.2 million from the previous cycle ending March 31, 2017.

Formally known as the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, the Hokie Club was founded in 1949 with the expressed purpose of funding all scholarships for Virginia Tech student-athletes. Total membership in the Hokie Club continues to stand at all-time high mark of approximately 13,000, a total that Beamer hopes will continue to grow. There is still plenty of time to join the Hokie Club before the basketball giving deadline on June 30.

“As I often said, Hokies are at our best when we’re all pulling together for Virginia Tech,” Beamer said. “We’ve made tremendous progress, but our goal of expanding Hokie Club membership to 25,000 remains the same. If you have a friend, neighbor or co-worker who loves the Hokies, invite them to join our team to help fund scholarships and make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes.”

Director of Athletics Whit Babcock echoed Beamer’s sentiments and expressed his gratitude for another record-setting year for the Hokie Club.

“I’m extremely grateful for the upward trajectory of giving to the Hokie Club, as well as the increase in our membership base,” Babcock said. “We will continue to be good stewards of this generosity as we invest in the futures of our student-athletes, helping provide them with all the resources necessary to reach their potential.

“Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field of competition or as they prepare for their post-graduate career, the continued support of our donors is vital to give our student-athletes the best chance to succeed,” Babcock continued. “We’ve made tremendous strides, but as Coach Beamer indicates, we remain resolute in our goal of expanding Hokie Club membership to 25,000 in order to ensure the long-term success and competitiveness of athletics at Virginia Tech. Now is the time to get involved and help us continue our positive momentum.”

– VT –

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