BPW/VA
P.O. Box 4842
McLean, Virginia
22103-4842
P.O. Box 4842
McLean, Virginia
22103-
Scholarship House Project
It all began in 1998 …
During the 1998 BPW/USA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, something caught the eye of then BPW/VA President and Virginia BPW Foundation Chair Barbara Strother—it was the exhibit and information by the BPW Florida Foundation on their Scholarship House. Barbara proceeded to talk about the project with other members from Virginia at the conference, with the idea that the Virginia BPW Foundation could do the same thing. The notion that the Virginia BPW Foundation could build a Scholarship House on a state university was talked about for several months.
1999-2000
In February 1999, the Virginia BPW Foundation decided to move forward with the Scholarship House Project. The one stipulation was that in order to be successful, we would need the support of the BPW/VA members. There would need to be many fundraisers, and it was determined that for the Foundation to move forward with the project, we needed to raise a total of $50,000.
2001
At the February 2001 Board of Trustees meeting, it was obvious that the members of BPW/VA wanted to build a Scholarship House—we had raised $50,000. In February 2001, the Trustees agreed to use the Building Fund towards building a Scholarship House. This action was then endorsed by the BPW/VA members at the state convention in May 2001. In October 2001, letters were sent to all Virginia state universities and colleges asking if they were interested in partnering with the Virginia BPW Foundation in such a venture.
2002
At the August 2002 Board of Trustees meeting, it was determined that the request for proposals (RFP) was ready to be mailed, with proposals due back no later than September 30, 2002. By the spring of 2003 we had narrowed those being considered to two: Old Dominion University in Norfolk and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Meetings were scheduled and held with both schools.
2003
At the 2003 BPW/VA state convention it was announced that the first Virginia BPW Foundation Scholarship House would be built at Old Dominion University (ODU). Since that announcement, there has been a great deal of communication with ODU, as well as several face-to-face meetings.
2004
In August 2004 the trustees designated 20% of the 2003-04 income from the Louise Whitman investment account to be used for the Scholarship House Project. The trustees anticipate that the first Scholarship House will be started in 2005.
Fundraisers
Fundraisers have been a key factor in raising the funds to proceed. Over the years, the fundraisers have included:
In 2004-05, the raffle will be two roundtrip tickets anywhere that Independence Air flies within the continental United States. These fundraisers along with the generous support from BPW/VA members and others are helping to make the Scholarship House a reality.
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To obtain further information about the Scholarship House Project, click here to contact us.
Contributions to the Scholarship House Project are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. To make a contribution to the scholarship House Project, click here to download a contribution form.