VCOM View Vol 9-1

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

The VCOM Endowed Scholarship Challenge A Unique Opportunity to Double the Impact of your Philanthropy BY THIM CORVIN

T he Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) intends to have more need-based scholarship opportunities available to its students, thanks to a new challenge issued by President and Provost Dixie Tooke- Rawlins, DO and the VCOM Board of Directors. According to President Tooke- Rawlins, “As an institution, one of our core missions is to provide access and opportunity to any qualified student seeking a medical education. To that end, the Board of Directors has committed funds that will strengthen the College’s endowed scholarship

campus locations: Blacksburg, Auburn or Spartanburg.

the health of those living in rural and medically underserved areas.

After a donor has made an outright gift or completed the first pledge payment, the matching scholarship funds will be awarded at the start of the following academic year. For example, if someone makes a gift by December 31, 2018, the scholarship will be awarded at the beginning of the 2019–2020 academic year. John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasized the instant and long- lasting effects of the endowed scholarship challenge, “While VCOM is ranked one of the most affordable of all private medical schools in tuition costs, matching funds will provide immediate financial aid while the pool of endowed funds grows as a permanent source of support. It will enable qualified students who are committed to our mission to receive an excellent medical education, no matter their family’s financial circumstances.” ■

Eligible Gifts All new endowed scholarship gifts of $100,000 or more (payable in up to five years) are eligible for the 1:1 match. For example, a gift of $100,000 will receive $100,000 in matching funds, augmenting its value to $200,000. Initially, this challenge match will provide a grant of $4,000 per year as a named scholarship award while the capital growth from the gift is reinvested in the donor’s endowment until it reaches the $200,000 endowment level. Gifts by individuals, corporations and foundations, as well as joint gifts by multiple donors, are also eligible as long as one of the donors guarantees to assume responsibility for the full amount of the endowed scholarship. Designating Scholarships Donors may restrict their scholarship for use by students attending any of the three VCOM

program for both current and future generations of VCOM students.”

The permanently named scholarships created through the challenge will be offered to students who are committed to VCOM’s mission of improving

For more information about the VCOM Endowed Scholarship Challenge, contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at 540-231-7189 or development@vcom.edu.

winter 2018 | VCOM V iew M agazine 23