During Fiscal Year 2026, the University of Lynchburg raised more than $7.6 million, including more than $1.1 million for The Lynchburg Fund, a fund that enables the University to allocate resources to areas of greatest need.
Gifts to The Lynchburg Fund totaled $1,105,877.77. It was the second year in a row that gifts to the fund broke the $1 million mark.
The $7,696,659.91 raised by the University during FY26 included 7,326 gifts received from 2,964 individual donors. Of these, 885 were first-time donors and 1,259 were Lynchburg alumni.
In a message to all who supported the University during the 2026-27 year, Shawn Wood, Lynchburg’s associate vice president of advancement, said, “Your extraordinary boost in support has given our community powerful momentum.
“As we look to the coming year, we are filled with excitement and confidence that together, through deeper engagement, we will reach new heights and create an even bigger impact.”
Other highlights of the year of giving included the following:
Whitehead Foundation Grant
Lynchburg received a $436,309 grant from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation. Of the total, $86,834 will support general undergraduate scholarships and $349,475 will fund undergraduate nursing scholarships.
The late Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans, a native of Thaxton, Virginia, was a businesswoman, philanthropist, and the wife of one of the original Coca-Cola bottlers.
“The grant … will make such an impact in helping to support the financial investments made in pursuing a nursing degree,” said Dr. Anita Chambers, chair of the nursing department. “Nursing school is a rigorous, full-time commitment, and the financial strain can often be a burden for our students as they balance their demanding clinical rotations with intense coursework.”
Chambers said the grant “directly invests in the next generation of healthcare leaders” at Lynchburg and “means more passionate students can focus on mastering their clinical skills, passing their courses successfully and preparing for their state board exam, rather than worrying about how to pay for tuition or textbooks.
“This generosity doesn’t just support individual students, but it also strengthens our entire community by helping us graduate compassionate, highly skilled nurses at a time when healthcare entities need them most.”
One Lynchburg
In February, the University marked the completion of its “One Lynchburg” comprehensive campaign by hosting a celebration dinner in Hall Campus Center’s Memorial Ballroom.
The goal of One Lynchburg was to raise $40 million in seven years — by the end of 2025. The campaign raised $42,176,562.22, and in only five years.
The campaign’s slogan, “One Hive, One Heart, One Home,” referenced the three pillars of support it reinforced: endowed scholarships, research and service learning, and innovative learning and gathering spaces.
“Tonight, we recognize the power of a community united behind one goal: ensuring that this incredible institution continues to provide Lynchburg students with One Hive, One Heart, and One Home for generations to come,” Shawn Wood, associate vice president of advancement, said at the event.
During dinner, Dr. Julius Sigler ’62, ’15 DSc, a longtime physics professor and dean at Lynchburg, said he felt “a sense of accomplishment” to see the end of the campaign, calling it “a foundation to build on for the future.”
Walker Family Scholarship
The Barbara and Thomas Walker Family Scholarship Fund was created in March with a $25,000 estate gift received by the University of Lynchburg in 2024. It’s named for a philanthropic alumni couple and supports first-generation college students from Southside Virginia — more specifically, students from the counties of Greensville, Southampton, Brunswick, and Mecklenburg.
Dr. Thomas Walker ’53, ’19 DHL and Barbara Jones Walker ’54 were first-generation college students. Over his lifetime, Thomas Walker donated more than $650,000 to Lynchburg. The Walker Human Performance Laboratory, located in Turner Gymnasium, is named for him.
He was a member of Lynchburg’s board of overseers from 1985-95 and a member of its board of trustees from 1995-2008. In 1977, he received Lynchburg’s T. Gibson Hobbs Award, which recognizes alumni who provide exceptional service to church, community, and alma mater.
She was valedictorian of the Class of 1954. Active in church and community service, she received the T. Gibson Hobbs award in 2002.
GiveDays
In April, GiveDays raised $901,525 — a more than 70% increase over last year’s event. The annual fundraiser was expanded to two days this year, with a theme of “Two Days. One Hive. Infinite Impact.”
In what Wood described as a “powerful collective effort,” 1,335 individuals made 1,470 gifts on GiveDays, crushing the 1,000-donor goal. The two-day total included 333 first-time donors, contributing a total in excess of $170,342; 650 alumni; 122 students; 138 faculty and staff; and 187 parents of current students.
More than $360,000 was donated to The Lynchburg Fund on GiveDays, and 19 matches and challenges were completed — several prompted by the University’s board of trustees, which combined for nearly $300,000 in matches, challenges, and individual gifts.
Bell Scholarship
Eric Bell ’89, a member of the University’s board of trustees, created a scholarship in honor of his parents. The Lester M. Bell ’76, ’81 MAd and Audrey Dodd Bell Scholarship Fund, established with a $50,000 gift from Bell, supports undergraduate students in Lynchburg’s business and nursing programs.
Lester Bell ’76, ’81 MAd, who died in April 2025, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in personnel administration and management from what was then Lynchburg College. His wife, Audrey, is a 1963 graduate of Lynchburg General Hospital School of Nursing and worked as a registered nurse with Centra Health for 42 years.
“I am very fortunate to have wonderful parents,” their son said. “Both raised from humble beginnings in Nelson County, Virginia, they both instilled in me a work ethic and an appreciation for higher education, allowing me to become successful in my career and life.
“[I had a] profound realization that the best way to preserve my father and mother’s legacies is by giving back to the aspiring students at the University of Lynchburg, so they can also be successful in life.”
Fox Fund
The Fox Student Retention Fund, established with a $20,000 gift from Julie Pierson Doyle, chair of the University’s board of trustees, supports “students experiencing a sudden, unforeseen financial hardship that, without this direct intervention, could prevent their continued enrollment.”
The assistance, which does not need to be repaid to the University, is to be a “last resort to address immediate financial barriers, complementing rather than replacing existing financial aid, scholarships, or long-term financial planning.”
Students may receive up to $3,500 during their time at Lynchburg.
“Since the fund’s full implementation [in December], we have already awarded aid to a student through our referral process,” said Kristen Cooper, vice president of the Office of University Experience and Student Success.
“They express[ed] such profound relief and graciousness regarding the support they received.”
More than $56,341 was received for the Fox Fund on GiveDays this past April. The gifts came from just 12 donors, including $50,000 from Daniel and Mary Elizabeth Caramagno, parents of a Lynchburg student.
Elliott Endowment
The University has a new endowed award, thanks to the generous support of Dr. Ralph Elliott ’66, after whom it was named.
The Dr. Ralph Delano Elliott Excellence Award Endowment recognizes faculty and staff who create meaningful learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom — programs and initiatives that open doors, remove barriers, and invite students to learn in new ways.
Each year, one outstanding recipient will receive a stipend and public recognition, and their name will be added to a permanent plaque honoring those who advance the University’s mission of innovation and inclusion.
The Office of Financial Aid awards funds and scholarships based on fund criteria. You do not need to apply separately for this or any other scholarships when applying for admission to the University of Lynchburg.
For more information on how to make a planned gift to the University, please contact Shawn Wood, associate vice president of advancement, at [email protected] or 434.544.8450.
