History of Success
In 1980, a group of non-alumni parents, recognizing the University of Virginia's need for expanded external support, formed the Parents Program of the University of Virginia Fund. The program now includes all parents and has been renamed the U.Va. Parents Committee. These parents share an interest in maintaining the quality that attracts their sons and daughters to the University. This volunteer group of parents was established to receive and coordinate gifts from parents of University of Virginia students. For 30 years, the U.Va. Parents Committee has served the University and helped to enrich the experience of its students through fundraising activities, grants and input.
Parents have provided funding for more than 1,500 student groups, programs and organizations as well as University programs that directly benefit student life.
In 2008-09, the majority of the funds were spent on the student experience, safety and health, career preparation and parent communication and engagement.
This includes faculty-student interaction activities such as the Second-Year Dinner Series, Major Meals and the President’s Dinner, non-sport student activities such as Sustained Dialogue, PRIDE Magazine and the FilmMakers Society, community service programs such as Madison House, Alternative Spring Break and Pancakes for Parkinson’s, leadership initiatives, including orientation leadership training, L2K8 and L2K9 and student sport activities, including Women’s Club Lacrosse, Women’s Club Soccer, Men’s Water Polo, and Virginia Water Sports Team. All teams are non-varsity and rely on private funding to compete.
Grants have ranged from $125 to $150,000 over a three-year period to initiate the First-Year Faculty Advisory Program now known as COLA classes.
The Safety Task Force was created in October 2006, to evaluate how parents could directly contribute to a safer community. The task force consists of University staff, local law enforcement, parents and students who meet regularly to discuss safety concerns and proactive ways of promoting safety. To date, funds from the task force have been used:
- To collaborate with Student Council to create the emergency text message system
- To provide emergency flat screens in the libraries
- To provide an emergency flat screen in the Office of Admission
- To assist in procuring the Global Positioning System for the University bus system
- To support the Siren/Public Address System across Grounds
- To develop public service announcements