To our Wonderful Hokie Family,
As I sit here writing this letter I am filled with gratitude. In this day and age, being a Jewish student on a college campus is not easy. With your help and support, our students are able to have transformative experiences and explore their Jewish identifies in the welcoming spaces that Hillel provides.
I want you to know how thankful I am for you!
Alumni who are philanthropists, ensuring the Jewish future for Hillel Hokies on campus. Current students who are investing in their home away from home and getting friends to join. Families who remember and know how important Hillel was and is to their children who've graduated.
You make me so proud.
We may may not have won the competition, but your donations make us feel like
champions of the world!
Thanks to you and other generous contributions, which continued past the 8 pm deadline, we raised
over $55,000
during this year's cup, helping fund all of the programs, holidays, meals, initiatives, coffee conversations, and more that Hillel does to support and empower Jewish students at Virginia Tech.
Here are some stats from this year's Cup:
- This year we raised $20,000 more than we did last year.
- Last year 200 people donated to the Cup. This year over 280 did.
- 27 students donated last year. 95 did this year.
- Last year alumni families raised almost $6,000. This year $17,126.98 were collected.
- The Cup inspired 66 people to donate to Hillel for the first time.
- In 2013, the first year of the Commonwealth Kiddush Cup, Hillels at Virginia Tech and UVA raised just over a combined $12,000. This year, you helped raise over $105,000 combined for Jewish college students at these two great universities.
Seven years ago when we first conceived the Commonwealth Kiddush Cup, we never dreamt of the generosity we've seen in the last two weeks from young alumni, current students, and their families.
On behalf of our entire staff team, thank you for helping us grow.
Sending you my love and admiration,
