It is possible—perhaps even likely—that I have drunk the Koolaid, but I don’t think everyone gets the importance of private philanthropy at Virginia Tech.

We’re getting ready to start a mini-campaign in which we will ask faculty and staff to contribute to The Campaign for Virginia Tech and we’ve gotten some pretty negative responses from a few people.

Now, let me begin by saying that this is not an ideal time to make this ask and that fact is not lost on anyone who works in this office, I assure you. The original plan was to do it earlier, but it never seemed to be a good time, and while we waited, the economy got worse and now the campaign is almost over so it’s a now-or-never kind of thing.

Having said that, there perhaps has never been a time when private support could make such a difference to people here.  And yes, I know that the employees here haven’t had a raise in 4 years.  Me neither.  And I know that people are having to do more work in spite of that.  Me too. And I know that programs are being gutted and in some cases cut.

But no one is asking the faculty and staff at Virginia Tech to give back part of their salary. No one is being asked to do something they wouldn’t do anyway. If charitable giving isn’t part of who you are, then don’t participate. But if you regularly make donations to good causes, then all we’re asking is that you consider Virginia Tech as worthy of some of those donations.

I hope that if you work here, you understand the value of a college education. And that Virginia Tech provides one of the best educations to be found anywhere.

We’re not asking you to pay the rent or keep the lights on. We’re asking that you support the things that make this university special—hands-on research projects, financial aid for students who are just as strapped financially as we all are, top-notch faculty who provide necessary knowledge to our students, and laboratories and equipment that are so important to what we do here.

Private philanthropy is making a difference here every day and if you believe in the university you work for, all we ask is that you support it the same way you might support the other organizations who do good work throughout the region and the nation.