Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 14 No. 2 | October 2021

2 2022 INVESTMENT GUIDE Dear Hokie Nation, What a start we have had to our fall sports season. Having you all back at Lane Stadium to kick off the 2021 season was truly a special moment that will resonate with Hokie Nation for generations to come. Our student-athletes are poised for a wonderful year where they can directly share these cathartic experiences with our fans, after a year where it was almost impossible to do so. We have direction, alignment, and commitment - an advantage which differentiates us from many of our peers. We are committed to competing at the highest level and striving to win ACC and national titles. We have a collective plan and vision to get there while continuing to reflect the values and the academic mission we seek to uphold at Virginia Tech. During this challenging year, we have worked to excel across the board, both athletically and academically. It is time to focus on the amazing opportunities in front of us. We are hitting our stride and believe it is time to do something incredible at Virginia Tech. We have a prime opportunity to close the gap on our competition during the “new normal” and set the pace. We use the reference of the “pit stop” with our staff, meaning that all programs within the ACC and across the country are coming into the pits after the toughest year many of us have ever experienced and all cars are damaged. We are working to leave the pits quickly in an improved car, with the main goal of gaining ground and surpassing our competition. Resources, strong fan support, and unified leadership are tough to beat. Scholarship costs for our Athletics department have risen to $16M from $9M in less than a decade. With your commitment, Hokie Club membership through the Drive for 25 initiative has increased from 10,000 donors to over 20,000 donors in less than five years to help us keep pace. Thank you! Hokie Club membership is critical to our long-term success as we engage new donors at all levels and provide needed operating revenue which directly supports all Hokie student-athletes. There is strength in numbers and each of us has a role to play! You help us create the memorable experiences that only Virginia Tech can offer. The breathtaking moments in our venues, the student-athlete graduations, and even the world-class tailgates are moments all made possible by Hokie Nation. These moments are special. Hokie Nation will help get us to the top. We are all in this together, and while we do not need someone to do everything, we humbly ask everyone to do something. Your involvement as a donor at any amount is critical to our success. You directly impact the lives of Hokie student-athletes at Virginia Tech and we cannot thank you enough for that. The Drive Year 2022 edition of the Investment Guide is here to educate and explain how you, your friends, and your family can invest in Virginia Tech Athletics. Inside you will find numerous resources which explain how to maximize your gift to the Hokie Scholarship Fund as well as a renewal statement. I encourage each of you to consider being 110% Hokie, which increases your giving from the previous year by 10%, or to Level Up, which moves you into the next tier of giving within the Hokie Scholarship Fund. This is the most direct way to honor our tradition, impact our present, and shape our future. Now is the Time. This is the Place. This is Home . Whit Babcock Director of Athletics A WORD FROM WHIT DOES MY GIFT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Yes! As we continue to “Reach for Excellence,” your contribution to the Hokie Club is the single best way you can help us continue our positive momentum. HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER? It’s easy! While any gift amount to any fund counts you as a Hokie Club member, gifts for the purpose of seating and parking benefits MUST be made towards the Hokie Scholarship Fund. WHAT ISTHE ? The principal mission of the Hokie Club is to provide financial support for scholarships for Virginia Tech student-athletes. Other fundraising initiatives such as capital improvement, endowments and programmatic needs also fall under the responsibilities of the Hokie Club. These initiatives, along with scholarship fundraising, are a vital part of moving Virginia Tech athletes forward from a Challenger Brand to a Champion Brand . WHERE DOES MY DONATION GO? Contributing to Virginia Tech Athletics supports different areas that enhance the student-athlete experience, including scholarship and educational support, leadership development, and student- athlete wellness. ARE DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE? Non-seat related contributions, including gifts to capital projects, endowments and Hokie Scholarship Fund gifts that exceed your minimum seat requirement, are considered a charitable donation to a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Please consult a tax advisor on the deductibility of your gift(s) .