Dropped off our final Poppin' Checks to Coach Pete yesterday,
GRAND TOTAL for the year was $105,516
The Softball Auction raised an additional $31,866
Not a bad year.
Our six-year total below.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU that made it happen.
42 Replies
1mo
all you do, including keeping the village updated. I like the fact that Coach Pete has some discretion with the funds raised. Go Hokies!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
H
Hokie PE
1mo
Pete, including NIL?
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
Specifically he has around $85 in the general softball fund and as much as $50k for NIL if he decides he needs it there
He knows what he needs and we try to provide him flexibility.
** Edited by VTChip at 6/19/2026, 5:44:25 PM
(In response to this post by Hokie PE)
1mo
Job Well Done, My Friend.
** Edited by laphroaig at 6/19/2026, 5:28:06 PM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
H
Hokie-2x
1mo
When they are stakeholders. $250 out of $100,000 this year was a drop in the bucket but it still made me feel worthy of saying WE instead of THEY.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
H
Hokie-2x
1mo
You bring your eye candy to the game. WOW. Your deck furniture looks great on the new deck. Can't wait to see it.
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1mo
mrs laphroiag wanted me to remove them as I put all the parts together but wasn't I doing enough dealing with all those pieces and parts. Wasn't until the 5th chair that I had the assembly pattern down, by then there was only one chair left. Whoopee.
(In response to this post by Hokie-2x)
H
Hokie-2x
1mo
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1mo
My back made it kind of slow but was able to sit at a table for about 95% of each chair. Table needed two people so mrs laph helped a lot.
(In response to this post by Hokie-2x)
1mo
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
1mo
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
1mo
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
H
Hokie-2x
1mo
Last year and has never been to a game. He lives about 3 hours away. I'm determined to get him up for a series this season.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
H
Hokie-2x
1mo
Academic probation by dragging me to the Hokie House 3 times a week and forcing me to drink a pitcher of beer and eat a Hokie burger. LOL
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
S
saret
1mo
" “When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'.”"
― Groucho Marx
(In response to this post by Hokie-2x)
1mo
(In response to this post by saret)
R
RJHokie
1mo
Great job Chip and many thanks to those contributing to the efforts with the providing of auction items, auction purchases and donations!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
Early in this journey, I met with a Hokie Club person to ask for assistance and was told that his job was to target people who could give $10,000+ and that he just couldn’t help. He was probably right
BUT….It’s pretty amazing that a lot of $25, $50, $100, and $250 donations have added up to almost $500,000. Certainly we have had folks who have given more and they are really, really appreciated!!!!
But every single dollar has made a difference and I’m proud of that. And I think we’ve had a lot of fun doing it!
Thanks to every single person who has pitched it and/or donated items to the auctions. YOU ROCK!!!!
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
1mo
why this new athletic committee and the new AD need to deliver pink slips to a lot of these clowns in the HC and bring in some actual professional fundraisers that would welcome a $10 or $250 donation. The current ship of fools goes back to the days of Frank Moseley calling his pal Bear Bryant when he needed a new head football coach: "Send me one of your assistants, Paul"
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1mo
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2
2hhoop3
1mo
to see how much Mr.10,000 has raised through his efforts since you two spoke. It would be interesting to see what gifts, aside from the large gifts, any of the VT athletic fundraisers are actually responsible for. I expect the scene with Julia Roberts and her reply to the boutique sales lady in "Pretty Woman" would be perfect for you to that rep, "mistake, big mistake, huge."
(In response to this post by VTChip)
S
saret
1mo
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
R
RJHokie
1mo
And in all honesty, the Hokie Club isn’t structured to do what Chip does, and never will be.
What they have done is automate the smaller gifts (pledge per hit, strikeout, 3 pt baskets, touchdown, etc.) through email links which has raised some funds (not sure how much since the athletic department is well versed in information suppression). But Chip has inspired a lot of folks to give to softball which resulted in matching gifts, both at his “level” and on the “giving days” as well.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
2
2hhoop3
1mo
that the fundraising arm of a non-communicative athletic department devises a method to be removed from actual interaction with smaller donations. I realize the need to be efficient in efforts but, I think most would agree people are likely to give more when recognized and appreciated rather than treated with the coldness of an ATM transaction. Hopefully new leadership will generate a new department personality and attitude.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
S
saret
1mo
other Hokie Reps to our regular "get togethers" at Eastern Divide. I also routinely invited Whit, Phlegar and other staff members to the meetings. Brad showed up once, Everett showed up once, Marcus showed up once, and that was it. Did it every month for over a year. They just weren't interested, because none of us were the "whale" donors they were looking for.
As @RJHokie says, they want as little human contact as possible. They don't want any relationships, just our money. That's when I started describing regular donors as "ATMs and backdrops for televised sporting events."
There just like the current students. They don't want to interact, nor do they want to meet face to face.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
1mo
their target profile.
(In response to this post by saret)
S
saret
1mo
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
R
RJHokie
1mo
when the pledge is paid. But human contact is limited, if any, in those instances.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)