ANNOUNCING THE BILL WOOD SCHOLARSHIP FUND ALUMNI CHALLENGE
As part of the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Sorensen Institute, we are launching a challenge to all alumni to support a new scholarship fund available to students in 2009. These scholarships will be given in honor of Bill Wood, Sorensen founding Executive Director, to economically challenged students.
Bill Wood
Bill served as the founding Executive Director of the Sorensen Institute from 1993 until the summer of 2005. A well-known and widely respected journalist, Bill spent 26 years in the newspaper business before coming to Sorensen—the last 10 as editorial-page editor for The Virginian Pilot in Norfolk. As a reporter and editor, he covered the Virginia General Assembly for two decades. The success of the Sorensen Institute owes much to Bill's leadership. His personal reputation for fairness, ethics, and keen intellect—not to mention a wonderful sense of humor—lent instant credibility and vitality to an organization whose long-term viability some Virginians doubted.
The Challenge
Between now and September 30th, all alumni are encouraged to donate to this Scholarship Fund that honors Bill Wood's service to the Sorensen Institute. PLP alumni gifts will support PLP participants. Youth program alumni will support the CLP and HSLP participants. And CTP alumni gifts will go to support CTP participants—all in the classes of 2009. The class with the largest gift and the class with the highest participation in this Challenge will be recognized at the Alumni Reunion in Richmond on Saturday evening October 4. The funds gathered in this Challenge will be used to support 2009 scholarships to help pay the tuition for economically challenged students attending Sorensen programs.
Please Note
This challenge is not a year-end solicitation nor does it count towards a class pledge. It is a special request for you to give whatever you can, no matter what size, in honor of Bill Wood to help celebrate this, the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Sorensen Institute. While the Political Leaders Program Class of 2004 graciously helped to establish a permanent endowment in Bill Wood's name, this 2009 Scholarship Fund is a stand-alone special initiative.
How to Participate
To participate in the Bill Wood Scholarship Fund Challenge:
- Make a single gift online.
- In the special instructions section write “Bill Wood Scholarship.”
- It can be charged to your preferred credit card.
- Click here to participate in the Challenge and go to the giving page.
The Sorensen Institute's 2008 Alumni Reunion will be held on Saturday, October 4
at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Richmond.
Join us for dinner, the awards program, music and dancing.
Please register by September 20.
