The university launched the first capital campaign in its history on May 16, a $47.85 million fund-raising venture designed to benefit virtually every aspect of Old Dominion. The Campaign for Old Dominion University is divided into three areas: Endowment and Scholarships, $27.25 million; Capital, $15.6 million; and Virginia Beach Campus, $5 million. As part of the Endowment and Scholarships category, the university plans to raise $10 million for academic scholarships and $9 million for endowed faculty chairs and professorships. In the Capital division, the campaign will seek to raise $9 million for renovations to Constant Hall and $6 million for technological enhancements to the University Library and classrooms throughout the campus.

At the historic announcement on May 16, President James V. Koch reported the campaign was well on its way, thanks to gifts and pledges totaling nearly $25 million that had been raised during the lead and advance, or "quiet" phase of the campaign, which targeted major-donors those making gifts of $100,000 or more. (Three major donors are profiled on the following pages.) The rest, he said, will be up to the university's alumni, as well as corporations, foundations and friends.

The national campaign, or public phase, is headed by William E. Lobeck Jr. '63, president and CEO of National Car Rental. This effort will involve the personal solicitation of selected alumni, corporations and foundations, and approximately 50,000 alumni will be contacted via a phonathon that is scheduled to start in late 1998.

"I got involved because I felt Old Dominion had meant a great deal to me," said Lobeck. "It had contributed in no small way to the things I have been able to do or accomplish in life, and it's just really a great feeling to be able to be involved in some kind of pay back."

Joining Lobeck in the inauguration of the public phase of the campaign were Frank Batten, chairman of Landmark Communications, who is serving as co-chairman of the campaign along with Richard F. Barry III, and G. William Whitehurst, Kaufman Lecturer of Public Affairs at Old Dominion, campus campaign chairman. Under Whitehurst's leadership last year, the campus community, including the members of the university's various boards, helped get the campaign off to a great start, pledging $1.8 million to the Campaign for Old Dominion.