What will private contributions fund?

Why should the local business community partner with Virginia Beach City Public Schools and the City of Virginia Beach to raise $1.3 million for the Advanced Technology Center's "Success Express" Campaign?

Sponsorship Opportunities

How can I schedule a meeting with Congressman Pickett or another member of his "Success Express" fundraising committee to discuss ways that my company or I, as an individual, can be involved?

Fundraising Overview

The City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach City Public Schools are fully committed to 21st century training for the region's next high tech workforce and are backing that commitment with substantial financial and human resources to make the goal a reality. The ATC is a $23.5 million, 137,000 square foot facility. The City of Virginia Beach provided $13 million towards its construction. Virginia Beach City Public Schools is funding annual operating and equipment costs.

However, as everyone realizes, technology is expensive and must be upgraded on an almost continuous basis. It is imperative that the ATC open its doors with a cutting edge curriculum and the latest and greatest equipment and software. To maintain the quality and superiority of its program and the ability to stay "ahead of the curve," a group of Virginia Beach business people, led by former U.S. Congressman Owen Pickett, has committed to raising $1.3 million in private and corporate contributions.

"The city and the school system have a considerable financial investment dedicated to making the Advanced Technology Center a reality. However, operating in an environment of rapid and constant change requires an aggressive strategy for maximizing resources in order to ensure the preeminent position of the ATC program. Our fundraising campaign, called The Success Express, is designed to provide a pool of funds that will be leveraged to keep the ATC always ahead of the curve," says Congressman Pickett.

What will the $1.3 million in private contributions fund?

The funds will be segregated and used only for the ATC's highly specialized equipment and curricular updates. The goal is to ensure the facility always remains state-of-the-art.

Program needs now include:

• a high performance manufacturing lab
• quality assurance software
• a high-quality lathe system
• tabletop training consoles
• computer integrated management workstations
• and, industrial process control software.

Also needed is funding for the school system's portion of the Advanced Technology Center's Technology Theater. The Technology Theater, which will be shared with the community college, is designed to be a regional resource for teleconferencing, distance learning, symposiums, and conferences.

Why should the local business community partner with Virginia Beach City Public Schools and the City of Virginia Beach to raise $1.3 million for the Advanced Technology Center's "Success Express" Campaign?

Reasons to support a partnership include:

• To improve the labor pool of highly trained, technical employees and thereby raise the standard of workforce development in the region.
• To make available facilities to the businesses community, such as space in which relocating firms and/or existing companies can recruit, interview and train employees; host symposiums; and conduct teleconferences or distance learning activities.
• To enter into a mutually beneficial sponsorship that will net companies considerable public relations benefits.

Sponsorship Opportunities

The Success Express fundraising/sponsorship committee has designed a comprehensive donor recognition campaign. The committee will also work with corporate marketing departments to design individualized sponsorships. All donor levels will be recognized by: having their name included on the donor wall; receiving periodic bulletins via e-mail; inclusion in the commemorative ATC grand opening brochure; and receiving an invitation to the ATC's grand opening.

Following are the established funding levels and additional benefits:

Friend ($500)

• name on donor wall
• E-mail news bulletin announcement
• invitation to opening event
• program listing

Member ($1,000)

• name on donor wall
• E-mail news bulletin announcement
• invitation to opening event
• program listing
• recognition in VBCPS Apple-A-Day parent newsletter
• recognition in city's Beach magazine

Patron ($5,000)

• name on donor wall
• E-mail news bulletin announcement
• invitation to opening event
• program listing
• mention on ATC Web site
• on-stage recognition at opening event
• half-page program ad
• recognition in VBCPS Apple-A-Day parent newsletter
• recognition in city's Beach magazine

Bronze ($10,000)

• name on donor wall
• E-mail news bulletin announcement
• invitation to opening event
• program listing
• company name listed in city's Beach magazine
• mention on ATC Web site
• on-stage recognition at opening event
• half-page program ad
• recognition in VBCPS Apple-A-Day parent newsletter
• recognition on Virginia Beach City Public Schools' Web site (which receives approximately 3 million hits a month)
• School Board acknowledgement
• mention in Superintendent's on-camera report to School Board

Silver ($25,000)

• name on donor wall
• E-mail news bulletin announcement
• invitation to event
• program listing
• mention on ATC Web site
• on-stage recognition at opening event
• half-page program ad
• recognition in VBCPS Apple-A-Day parent newsletter
• recognition in city's Beach magazine
• recognition on Virginia Beach City Public Schools' Web site (which receives approximately 3 million hits a month)
• School Board acknowledgement
• mention in Superintendent's on-camera report to School Board
• inclusion in Beach magazine feature
• company name on city's Web site

Gold ($50,000)

• name on donor wall
• E-mail news bulletin announcement
• invitation to event
• program listing
• mention on ATC Web site
• on-stage recognition at opening event
• half-page program ad
• recognition in VBCPS Apple-A-Day parent newsletter
• recognition in city's Beach magazine
• recognition on Virginia Beach City Public Schools' Web site
  (which receives approximately 3 million hits a month)
• School Board acknowledgement
• mention in Superintendent's on-camera report to School Board
• inclusion in Beach magazine feature
• company name on city's Web site
• mayoral recognition of company

Platinum ($75,000)

• name on donor wall
• E-mail news bulletin announcement
• invitation to event
• program listing
• mention on ATC Web site
• on-stage recognition at opening event
• half-page program ad
• company or individual name listed in school system's Apple-A-Day parent newsletter
• company or individual name listed in city's Beach magazine
• recognition on Virginia Beach City Public Schools Web site
  (which receives approximately 3 million hits a month)
• School Board acknowledgement
• mention in Superintendent's on-camera report to School Board
• inclusion in Beach magazine feature
• company name on city's Web site
• mayoral recognition of company
• feature on platinum contributors in Apple-A-Day