U.Va. leads state in CVC giving for 10th year

Staff Report

The $550,433 that U.Va. employees contributed in the 2001 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is a “an extraordinary example of the compassion of state employees,” Sara Redding Wilson, the state’s top human resources officer, said Jan. 10 before presenting a Gold Award to the University for raising the highest amount of any state agency.

Those words were echoed by several speakers, including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Leonard W. Sandridge, during a Jan. 16 luncheon celebrating the generosity of more than 3,150 employees who gave their time, energy and money to the annual charity drive. “With the events of Sept. 11, our world changed and with it, the importance of the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign. Never before has the work of the CVC meant so much,” said David Cattell-Gordon, community relations director in U.Va.’s Cancer Center and a senior campaign team leader. “In this light, the CVC reminds us of what is most important and what our mission as a University is: service to others.”

Conducted each fall at state agencies, the CVC provides employees with an easy method of giving to charities of their choice. Employees this year could give to nearly 1,000 charities.

During the lunch, Sandridge recognized U.Va. units that contributed to the campaign’s success. The Office of the Vice President and Provost received the Hovey S. Dabney Award, named for U.Va.’s former rector and given to the unit with the highest per-capita gift per donor. The Jean Holliday Award, named in recognition of the former Engineering School administrator’s endless hours of community service, was given to the Senior Vice President for Development and Public Affairs area for the greatest percentage of employees participating in the campaign.

Two areas, the Medical Center and the Vice President for Management and Budget, shared the Campaign Spirit Award, which Sandridge described as “a very special award given to those that demonstrate the true spirit of service — gifts not only of money, but of time and talents, as well.”

Sandridge gave the President’s Office an award recognizing the area that experienced the greatest increase in participation from last year’s campaign to this year’s.

For nearly 10 years U.Va. has led state agencies in CVC giving. CVC chair Ida Lee Wootten praised the work of campaign leaders and volunteers, describing the amount raised as “the result of the depth of your commitment and the breadth of employees’ compassion.”

Throughout the Commonwealth, state employees contributed more than $3.4 million in the CVC, a new record and a 9 percent increase over last year’s total.