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Snead Family Foundation pledges $1 million to School of Business

Last April Dr. Eugene P. Trani, president of Virginia Commonwealth University, announced the public launch of its $330.5 million Campaign for VCU and named Thomas and Vickie Snead Campaign Co-chairs for the Monroe Park Campus. Recently, the Sneads, both 1976 graduates of the School of Business, announced that their family foundation is pledging $1 million to support the School of Business” $30 million campaign goal.

Tom Snead is president of Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield – Southeast Region and serves on the school's Campaign Executive Leadership team. He also was recently appointed to VCU's Board of Visitors. His wife, Vickie Snead – former vice president of merchandise planning and stock control of Miller & Rhoads department store, a member of VCU's Alumni Board, and the Board of Directors of the Science Museum of Virginia – plays an active role in the Campaign for Massey Cancer Center.

“The VCU School of Business opened a new world to me,” says Tom Snead. “Throughout my career, the education and skills acquired at VCU have never failed me in meeting the toughest of business challenges. This is why I feel so strongly in supporting my alma mater, an institution that has served me so well in life.”

“As proud VCU alumni, we are happy to give back to the institution that has given us so much opportunity,” adds Vickie Snead. “Tom and I consider this a wise investment in the future of VCU and its students.”

“The Sneads' million dollar pledge will help support the school's campaign goals to construct a new building complex and fulfill our vision to be nationally recognized as the leading technologically focused business school in the commonwealth,” says Dr. Michael Sesnowitz, dean of the School of Business. “This state-of-the-art facility will create a greater sense of community among students, faculty, alumni and business leaders.”

The new School of Business will co-locate, just east of Belvidere Street, with Phase II of the School of Engineering building on the Monroe Park Campus addition. Their proximity to each other will allow the schools to integrate some of their programs more easily.

Comprised of 20 mini-campaigns, the Campaign for VCU will build upon the previous success of Partners for Progress that added to existing endowed funds and professorships, and created such visible structures as the School of Engineering, the Stuart C. Siegel Center and the School of Arts Building. The present campaign for the School of Business will add components that did not exist before such as a career center, a trading room, and high- tech case and teambuilding rooms that will serve the six academic departments and over 3,300 undergraduate and graduate students.

“VCU's new School of Business will prepare students for successful careers and lifelong learning by providing management education firmly grounded in technology, interdisciplinary teamwork and global perspectives,” says Dr. Trani. “This exciting initiative will provide our business community with well-trained and motivated engineers and business executives who have great technical skills and can work in diverse environments. Everyone at the University is so grateful to Tom and Vickie for their great generosity and leadership. They are wonderful examples of our successful and appreciative alumni.”