CVC CAMPAIGN EXCEEDS GOAL

It was touch and go near the end, but Old Dominion's Combined Virginia Campaign finally surpassed its goal of raising $112,000 -- by 1.7 percent.

The statewide fund drive collects donations for a host of local, regional, national and international nonprofit health and humanitarian organizations, including United Way of South Hampton Roads. Pledges from Old Dominion employees totaled $113,880.

Old Dominion was eligible to receive a CVC Gold Award, which is given to Virginia agencies and institutions with average employee contributions of $100 or more or whose participation rate topped 40 percent. The university qualified on both counts, with an average employee gift of $140.59 and a participation rate of 44 percent, which was up 4 percent over last year.

Five of the 13 divisions in the campus campaign exceeded their individual goals: Academic Affairs Central, 182 percent; College of Sciences, 126 percent; Institutional Advancement, 122 percent; President?s Office, 114 percent; and Student Services, 106 percent. In all, 810 members of the campus community contributed to the campaign. The athletic department had the highest percentage of employee participation (93 percent).

Leading the effort for the second straight year were Donna Meeks, assistant to the vice president for administration and finance, and Victoria Burke, director of university publications.

"The campaign would not have been a success were it not for the more than 70 volunteers who solicited pledges," said Meeks. "I'd like to thank everyone who helped on the campaign and those who made a contribution."