I just finished organizing the last SB fundraising checks for the year
Checks were still trickling in this past week, but I'm thinking we have them all now.
I'll take them to Coach Pete and Mr. Bill this week.
Thanks to the generosity of the folks on TSL, we've raised a total of $45,294 this year through our stats pledges and the attendance fundraising drive. Combined with the $42,650 we raised through the softball auction, that totals $87,944 for the softball program this year.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!
Out of curiosity, I went back and looked at the dollars that we've raised since we started this back in 2021. The total raised is $351,620. It's ironic that when I met with a Hokie Club rep back in 2021 to ask for help, he told me that "his priority was those people who could give $10,000 or more.
I don't think we've done a bad job with "regular" folks.
Thanks again for your generosity.
96 Replies
1y
I remember you reaching out and encouraging me to do it even though I absolutely HATE asking people for money.
You created a monster!
(In response to this post by swimhokie)
1y
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
At the end of the day, it's money coming into the program.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
1y
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1y
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1y
those are games played against an opponent where the team still wants to perform at their best, still wants to win.
** Edited by laphroaig at 6/16/2025, 3:38:54 PM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
should be included, too. :-)
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1y
By expanding the fan base and uping our donations as Laphroaig suggests our goal should be North of $100K, a modest 20% increase would help Chip handover a $108K donation.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
Is it time to fund one?
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
. . . funding to the University. Think lottery money and public education. It was sold as funds to supplement normal funding but has become part of the regular budget.
(In response to this post by FriendofCoal)
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Techdady
1y
in the past only received partials.
(In response to this post by FriendofCoal)
1y
. . . spend the $$ securing an ace in the circle. Pitching is 10X (you pick the number) more important than any 20th or 21st position player.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 6/17/2025, 1:23:28 PM
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Techdady
1y
My point is that HS recruits esp, position players, can expect a FULL Scholarship now instead of a partial. Your point, spend the money securing an ace...Really? What money and what ace are we in the market of 'securing?'
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
1y
. . . unspecified amount of cash to 'invest' in the softball program. What single use would, potentially, make the most difference? It's in the circle; it's ALWAYS in the circle.
(In response to this post by Techdady)
1y
total also participated next season, raised their pledge by 30% that would mean $14,000 more. If the auction dollars stay the same, that would generate over $100,000.
I'm in - gonna increase my Dollar for Dingers pledge by 30% at least. If the team doesn't hit another 100+ dingers next season, I'll figure it out later.
Who's with me on an extra 30% for your Challenge/Performance Pledge????
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
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1y
Not bad, not bad at all.
Thanks, gang!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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RJHokie
1y
** Edited by RJHokie at 6/15/2025, 4:21:40 PM
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1y
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RJHokie
1y
I read your post and that’s a good idea!
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1y
And I don't mean Certified Public A-hole so just stop!
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
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RJHokie
1y
And I’m sure our buddy @saret has too, but not a certified public one……
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
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saret
1y
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1y
You folks have donated a ton of auction items and she has also donated her cash back from several credit cards.
As I said on the Subscriber Board, you outkicked your coverage with her...lol
We really appreciate all you do!!!!
Thank you!!!!
(In response to this post by saret)
1y
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
$10,000 each since 2021? That's the equivalent to what you've done. Something tells me he hasn't and won't.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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saret
1y
rep is that he was one of about three or four reps brought on at the same time. They were all told that same directive,...Only to concentrate on donations of $10K or greater. That's what all the reps are told. That's the "fund raising" philosophy of the HC. The rest of us are just peons.
(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
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saret
1y
I do the same. All my n0n-required donations go to SERTC and SB via @VTChip .
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1y
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1y
You can't waste time and effort worrying about things you can't control.
Sometimes you simply have to move on.
I'm glad I did.
(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
1y
My dad taught me that when I was a young pup! Thanks Dad (in heaven) for opening my eyes early on in life! Go Hokies! Boy did he love the Hokies and the Wildcats of Arizona where he was raised as a young pup! :-)
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
1y
one has to wonder what Chip could do if VT hired him as an "official" softball fundraiser where he had more resources, etc to do the unofficial job that he currently does so well. Chip has the two most important attributes you need to raise money - PASSION and DRIVE! I am serious when I say that I wouldn't put it past Chip that if paired up with official VT resources/connections that he would be able to raise enough money for things like major TSP renovations, etc.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
TSL should own "This is Home"
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
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Hokie-2x
1y
EVERETT and I really thought then we were doing a good job. I felt like I was keeping my people informed. But it seems like there's no such thing as a Hokie Rep system it's impossible to ever get anything done from the Hokie Club
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
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RJHokie
1y
Hokie rep system doesn’t really exist anymore.
No executive director of the Hokie Club and the oversight minion isn’t a professional fundraiser. I have heard that Danny White is taking more interest than Brad Wurthman, but Hokie Club oversight and fundraising is just another responsibility for him.
(In response to this post by Hokie-2x)
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saret
1y
@laphroaig can attest to that. I had been giving to VT for years when I lived in Tidewater, and never met or communicated with the HC and the HC rep. The Blacksburg HC exists in name only. The only real Hokie Club exists in the bowels of Lane Stadium, and they are a leaderless, moribund group at that.
Imo, they reflect the "leadership" of the AthDept. They aren't fund raisers, they are fund collectors which are levied by fiat. They don't communicate any better or more frequently than the Athletic Director. Hell, Weaver used to appear frequently on Tech Talk Live when he was in charge and physically able. Whit might as well be a hermit in a cave. The Hokie Club reflects its leader, Whit.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
1y
that started at Eastern Divide and now meets at Bull & Bones Blacksburg. I missed that camaraderie we had with @RJHokie at the helm in Charlottesville. If you're within an hours drive of Blacksburg and you're not attending those TSL nights, you're missing out. Nothing super-duper thrill-filled entertaining goes on but it's a really solid evening with some great guys and gals. (I did get Bre Peck to attend the last one but pretty sure I won't be able to pull that off again).
Can honestly say we've made most of our best friends since we moved here thru TSL, not thru the Hokie Club.
(In response to this post by saret)
1y
In fact his portion of Tech Talk Live was the only part worth listening to. He put actual info out there. Coach Beamer, bless his heart, would talk and talk, yet say nothing new.
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1y
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1y
their butts.
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saret
1y
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1y
...is there a benefit to the program to giving through you vs to VT with softball designation? Like they get more control of funds or payments through the school offset donations to the general fund?
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
Some like to give through me to show the impact of TSL.
Some give to be part of a group of people that make a difference and I try to share examples of that.
But the most common reason for giving through me is a mistrust of the Hokie Club, and unfortunately that mistrust does exist. There is a perception that while that the Hokie Club may direct funds to softball, they also redirect funds on the back end so that basically the ultimate dollars given to softball is unchanged. Funds that are given through me are handed directly to Coach Pete. Since he knows his original budget, he now knows that he now has this many more dollars to spend. That may be an unfair perception, but it does exists - and I have friends that would absolutely not give otherwise, so I keep doing it.
The main thing is to simply give to the softball program. I do not consider myself in competition with the Hokie Club, but I enjoy what we do as a group, and I know that we make a difference.
(In response to this post by ONELLY)
1y
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
What you said here describes me exactly!
First off, I will echo what others have said here - simply unbelievable the job you have done with your fundraising efforts for VT softball. The program, and we as fans, are so lucky to have you. And your value to this program FAR exceeds the money you raise!
But to the points you make in your reply to ONELLY, I want to add my emphasis that those are the reasons I do 100% of my softball giving through Chip vs via the Hokie Club directly:
1) I like the "optics" of seeing one passionate fan's efforts to raise money translated into absolute $ amounts ie I love seeing Chip being able to say I was directly/indirectly responsible for raising close to $400,000. I know Chip is humble and will say that doesn't matter but I for one, LOVE to see that for him!
2) While I have no firm evidence that everything isn't on the up and up with sports specific donations directly to the HC, I intend for any money I give to softball to be ADDITIONAL money they have already been budgeted for. In other words, if I give $X directly to softball via the Hokie Club, how do I know they don't then redirect $X from their softball budget and place it somewhere else? If that were the case, then technically my money did go to softball but the overall net gain for softball would be $0. By giving instead via Chip who then gives the money to Coach Pete, then Pete knows what extra amount he has to work with in addition to what Whit tells him his budget is.
I really see no downside to funneling funds via Chip.
** Edited by gelded turkey at 6/15/2025, 12:14:37 PM
** Edited by gelded turkey at 6/15/2025, 1:50:00 PM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
Yu have been onboard since the very beginning and have always encouraged me and supported me while asking to remain in the shadows.
You are truly an unsung hero and we all appreciate all you've done.
(In response to this post by gelded turkey)
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RJHokie
1y
been received by the Hokie Club, check cashed, and the tracking and crediting of those funds basically disappeared.
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TECH337
1y
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1y
. . . your efforts on behalf of the program have been epic.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
That takes this year's total to $45,494 and I'm throwing in $6 to make it an even $45,500.
So now combined with the $42,650 we raised through the softball auction, that takes the total for the year to $88,150!!!
And if anyone else wants to jump in, go ahead and do so - we'll figure it out!!!!.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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Hokie-2x
1y
Serious money.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
go along with 90% of the rest of those marvelous "fundraisers" Past time to clean house!!!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
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saret
1y
as good a job at Ohio State as he did here.
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1y
My brother’s freshman year at VT. VT played at Clemson and I learned from the Clemson fans what IPTAY meant. I have wondered, and been disappointed, why the VT athletic department never came up with something similar to IPTAY. 🤷♂️
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
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GBOHokie
1y
I mean a lot less. I am just a regular folk. But wouldn’t have given to softball without your efforts.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
There's not many (if any at all) who could pull this off as well (or at all).
(In response to this post by GBOHokie)
1y
Not everyone can do what you do
Not everyone who CAN do what you do WILL do what you do
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1y
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saret
1y
Your next to last sentence kind of says it all in re" the HC and their fundraising efforts.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
Way to go Hokie Nation Softball fans! You guys rock! I'm happy to be part of this revolution of like minded people! Go Hokies! Go Lady Hokies Softball Team, let's get it in 2026 guys!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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RJHokie
1y
The totals are great and it good to see this kind of support for the program from TSL readers and/or posters!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
People like yourself that unselfishly give to the program on a regular basis makes this possible.
Thank you.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)