August 5, 2008 — The McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia set a new annual fund record in 2007-08, raising $2,276,569 and surpassing its goal ($2.1 million) for the seventh straight year. Gifts during the fiscal year came from 3,600 donors, and eclipsed the previous record of   $2,026,948, set a year earlier.

Katie Whittier, assistant dean for alumni development, said that alumni support through the annual fund is essential to the school's success. "When alumni support McIntire's Annual Fund, they're investing in today's students," she said. "Year to year, the life of the school depends on annual unrestricted funds. We are extremely grateful to our alumni and friends for their extraordinary ongoing generosity.”

McIntire Dean Carl Zeithaml added, "the annual fund enables the school to enhance student learning experiences, expand technological capabilities, recruit and retain the best faculty and take advantage of a wide range of new opportunities. Without the help of our loyal alumni and friends, we simply could not create and maintain the world's best business programs. The students, faculty and staff of the Comm School offer our sincere appreciation, and we look forward to continued and expanded alumni support in the future."