VCU news

By Tom Gresham

As the men’s basketball teams from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond prepare to rekindle their longstanding rivalry on the court, the universities’ alumni bases are already locked in a fundraising competition that has become its own annual tradition.

The third annual Battle for the Capital pits the alumni of the two universities against each other in a measure of school spirit. The universities score points when they receive donations from their alumni. The challenge counts each donation ($5 minimum) made by credit card as one point. Alumni cannot score more than one point each during the challenge, though alumni spouses living at the same address count as two points even if only one gift is made. Donors can give to the annual fund designation of their choice.

Points will be tallied only between 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 18 and 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 25. The Rams and Spiders face off on the court at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Robins Center.

In the event’s short history, the universities have proven to be closely matched. Richmond won the inaugural competition, 507-271, while VCU won each of the two parts of last year’s competition, when it was held before each of the schools’ basketball games – winning 608-423 the week of the first matchup and 603-554 the week of the second. The winner keeps an engraved trophy for a year.

Michael P. Andrews, a VCU alumnus and the university’s director of annual giving, said the good-natured contest between the crosstown institutions spurs alumni giving that benefits both schools.

“The Battle for the Capital helps raise funds that strengthen student scholarships, research and study-abroad opportunities, among other programs,” Andrews said. “It also engages our alumni and encourages first-time donors to give to the university.”  

For more information about the Battle for the Capital, including a scoreboard that will be updated during the week and information about how to contribute, visit http://www.battleforthecapital.org/, a site that VCU and UR is sharing for the challenge.

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