The letter is below. I'm sure the first question is what response did you get? I got a call from Bill Lansden, the head of the Hokie Club. His response was basically, thanks for donating...yadda yadda yadda...there's nothing we can do...thanks for donating.

Here is my letter:

Mr. Babcock,

Let me introduce myself. My name is XXXX, a Virginia Tech graduate of the class of 1988 in Computer Science. I’ve been a Hokie Club member for almost 20 years and continually increased my donation over those years. My most recent donation was a five year commitment for $50,000 with my final installment paid at the end of 2015. As you are well aware, by me donating and being an alumni that puts me in the very small four percent of alumni donors as has been reported in multiple publications and guides. And going a step further, my donation level of $50,000 puts me in the one-half percent of alumni donors giving $50,000+. That’s a very small, select group and possibly some of your most loyal donors.

One thing that was offered when I committed to the $50,000 donation was that once my commitment was met, I would only have to donate a yearly minimum $500 to keep my status. This offer was done in person with a handshake and an implied agreement. It was not in writing, as one of the VTAF representatives disingenuously pointed out during a Q&A session of the new Hokie Club rollout. This was a nice incentive to me in return for providing the VTAF with a large donation up front -- a win-win for both of us.

Obviously, with the new Hokie Club reorganization this benefit is gone. So for my loyalty, I’m rewarded with the rules changing, my level/status going away and a request to donate yet more money. I honored my commitment, the Hokie Club got their money up front and now they don’t want to honor any part of the commitment with the reason, “there’s nothing in writing” and “we have new challenges”.

I understand that you have a business to run and you are paid to make tough decisions. I understand where the price of athletics has been and where they are headed. I definitely understand the VTAF’s predicament and the new plan focusing on recurring income. It is a business and a tough one at that.

That said, there’s still a balance between running a business and treating people the right way. And I feel that I’ve been treated unfairly. Again, I have nothing in writing but the Hokie Club representatives I worked with know what was implied. And again with the new Hokie Club rollout, there wasn’t any kind of concession or relief period after my large donation. Maybe I would feel differently if this was seven or ten years after I completed my pledge, but it’s immediately following completion of my commitment last December.

I feel like I did it the “right way” by donating. I could have just as easily used my $50,000 to purchase tickets on the secondary market for many, many years. Since you are a businessman, I’m sure you can estimate how long that money would have lasted me on the secondary market. But instead of going to the secondary market, I did it the “right way” -- I donated to help the VTAF in their mission and goals. Right now it’s a little hard to grasp that my reward to do it the “right way” is to have the rules changed and a request to dig deeper into my pocket.

And it’s not just about the money, it’s also about trust. As I mentioned above the commitment was made with handshake and a promise. I held up my end of the commitment and the people I trusted with that handshake changed the rules when my side of the commitment was met. It’s hard for me to donate to an organization that I don’t trust and believe in and I’m struggling with both of those.

I’m sure you’ve read multiple studies and poured over many graphs and statistics before implementing the new plan. I’m sure you are expecting to lose some donors along the way but are expecting them to be replaced by new donors. Again, it’s a business and those tough decisions must be made. It’s just hard for me to accept that my University has taken such a cold business stance towards their most recent, loyal and large dollar donors.

Just as you had a tough decision, I too am faced with one. Do I continue my support of the VTAF with some monetary donation or do I just purchase tickets to the events I want on the secondary market? I’m not sure what I will do, but if I do not opt to continue donating to the VTAF you’ll understand why.

No matter which answer I arrive at, I wish you and Virginia Tech Athletics continued success.

XXXXXX
Class of 1988

cc: David Everett, Ben Hill, Bill Lansden