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cavalier sports 8 CAVALIER CORNER R amon Breeden believes in giving back. "I've always felt like you should support the university," Breeden said. "Ever since I finished school, even when I could only give $100 after I graduated." He feels this way in part because he has a passionate belief that the University of Virginia is among the greatest universities in the nation. "I didn't care if the person across the table from me was from Harvard or Yale; it didn't make a difference with me because I was as well-educated as they were, and I could compete," he added. A 1956 graduate of Virginia's McIn- tire School of Commerce, Breeden is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Breeden Company. With more than 50 years of expertise in every facet of the real estate services industry, it is nationally rec- ognized as one of the most valued real es- tate development firms on the East Coast. Breeden has also given back to the Uni- versity with his time as a member and Pres- ident of the McIntire Foundation Board at The University of Virginia from 1995-99 and on the McIntire Advisory Board for several years prior to that. When asked to speak to graduates dur- ing graduation when serving as President of the McIntire Foundation Board, he told students, "When you graduate from one of the finest universities in the world, you should have the confidence to compete against anybody in negotiations." The Hampton Roads native also un- derstands the critical need for supporting those who desire a better life, but may not have the means to accomplish it. Breeden's father was a baseball player and while Ramon was a multi-sport athlete in high school, baseball was his passion, too. "In college I went out for the team and made the team," Breeden recalled. "I played third base, but soon thereafter I had to quit the team to pay my way through school. I didn't come from a wealthy fam- ily, so that was very disappointing to me and one of the things I will always re- member. "The lesson was that no matter how bad I wanted to play baseball, I had to leave something to make myself better in the future. I hated to give up baseball; I was pretty good at it, but I wanted my educa- tion." Because of his own personal experience and as an entrepreneur that built his multi- family and commercial development busi- ness on the ability to identify and make sound investments, Breeden explains that he continues to be a donor to the VAF to ensure other students don't have to sur- render their athletic dreams to get their education. "This money helps educate the student- athletes, some who may not have had a chance for a good education without these scholarships," Breeden noted. "As they educate themselves they elevate the Uni- versity and they return into the community a Virginia graduate. "It's more than just having a great sports team, you've got to go a step further. It gets the word out to the community that we're not just a great university we're relevant in athletics also and generates money back into the school." Breeden has made a living building better communities across the Hampton Roads and eastern United States. Today, he sees his continued support for the VAF as a way to help build better lives for University of Virginia student-athletes, who in turn re- turn to the community and help build better communities wherever they live and work. — Greg Waters Breeden graduated from Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce in 1956 and has served as Presi- dent of the McIntire Foundation Board. PHOTO COURTESY RAMON BREEDEN Ramon Breeden WAHOO NATION