The following is an open letter to Virginia Tech employees from Ed Jones, director of Virginia Cooperative Extension and honorary chair of the 2015 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.

Dear colleagues,

Virginia Tech is known as a great place to work, in part because of its generous and caring employees. When things get tough, the Hokie Nation jumps into action to lend support to those in need.

What better way to help your community than with a contribution to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign?

Thanks to the generosity of our employees, Virginia Tech donated a record $318,656 to CVC charities across the state in 2014 and more than $1.4 million during the past five years.

I am proud to serve as the honorary chair of the 2015 campaign, which kicks off Sept. 21 and runs through Dec. 14. Its theme is “Virginia Is for Givers.”

Our goal this year is $325,000. If each of our 7,400 employees donated just $2 per paycheck, we would easily exceed this goal.

Employees can make a tax-deductible gift online through payroll deduction or via paper pledge form, and they can choose to designate their gift to any of the more than 1,300 participating charities. Detailed information about specific charities is available on the CVC home page.

Employees are also encouraged to come together in departments and offices across the university to host events and activities to raise funds for the campaign.

Please consider making a contribution today through the online pledge system. Community resources are often stretched to capacity, but together we can make a difference.

Please accept my sincere thanks for your support of the 2015 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.

Ed Jones
Honorary Chair, 2015 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign
Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension

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