When most people picture “college students,” they imagine carefree young adults in dorms, but the reality is far different. According to a recent New York Times article, nearly half of undergraduates in the US attend community colleges, three out of four study part time, and one in five are parents–often single mothers. At Virginia Western, these students are our students, and your involvement makes the difference between persistence and dropping out.
Through your support, the Educational Foundation provides scholarships, the Student Food Co-Op fueled by Kroger, and the Student Emergency Fund. These resources help students stay in class when life gets hard. In 2024-25, more than 200 students received critical emergency support, and hundreds more found meals, technology, and scholarships because employees like you chose to give.
Every gift matters. You can direct your gift to the cause closest to your heart, and you can even give in memory or honor of someone who once helped you on your own journey. It’s a powerful way to say thank you while lighting the path for the next generation.
Because of you, community college students–many balancing jobs, kids, and debt–find hope, support, and the chance to keep going. You make college possible.
Make a gift of $10 or more and you’ll be entered into a weekly prize drawing AND the final grand prize drawing. Give today and get in on the excitement!
This week’s winners:
- Nicole Bell –Two tickets to Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
- Ann Clark — Buff City Soap Company goodie bag
- Sarah Miller — Deb’s Frozen Lemonade gift card for three large lemonades
- Jenifer Kurtz — Carilion Clinic Cosmetics gift bag
- Ben Whitt — Salem Red Sox bobblehead and baseball cards
Next week’s prizes include:
• Tickets to Grandin Theatre
• A gift card to Seasons and Occasions
• A Buff City Soap Company goodie bag
• A Blue Cow Ice Cream scoop card
• A gift certificate to Mountain Haus Florals
Giving is easy! Click GIVE NOW to make your gift today!
For more information, visit the Educational Foundation’s Employee Giving Page: https://www.virginiawestern.edu/giving/employee-giving/
Have questions? Reach out to Syreeta Combs at (540) 857-6833 or scombs@virginiawestern.edu.