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32 CAVALIER CORNER VAF Emeritus Dinner In 2022, the Virginia Athletics Founda- tion (VAF) launched the new VAF Emeritus Leadership Society of previous members of the VAF Board of Trustees to recognize their long-standing support and to keep them informed and engaged with Virginia Athletics and the VAF. On Friday, October 11, the VAF hosted the third annual dinner at Boar's Head Resort to welcome back past trustees. The beautiful evening began with a cocktail reception on the Lakeside Patio followed by dinner in the Hearth Room. During the program attendees were thanked for their service and shown how their continued leadership will signifi- cantly impact our student-athletes and all of Virginia Athletics. Anne Carter Smith, cur- rent VAF board member and women's tennis alumna spoke on behalf of all trustees to discuss the importance of the society and introduce the current student-athlete repre- sentatives sitting at each donor table. Cindy Brinker Simmons, former VAF board member and an alumna of the women's tennis and cross-country programs, provided a lovely blessing as well as a thoughtful introduction of special guest speaker Andres Pedroso, Head Men's Tennis Coach, recognizing all of his remarkable career accomplishments. Coach Pedroso spoke on behalf of all coaches to share his appreciation for the trustees' longtime support, thankfulness for the opportunities he and the program have experienced and provided highlights for the upcoming year. Athletics Director Carla Williams shared her gratitude for the trust- ees and updates within college athletics. VAF's Executive Director Kevin Miller closed the program by highlighting how valuable our Emeritus Leadership Society has been sharing the incredible lifetime collective giving by the trustees who have seen major developments during the span of years they served. Miller stressed the importance of continued investments by our society mem- bers and other generous supporters who will help our athletics programs remain at com- petitive and successful levels as the college landscapes continues to change. Drive At The Dean On October 25, VAF and the Men's and Women's Golf Programs hosted the second an- nual Drive at the Dean event. The Dean Family Performance Center was the setting for the event featuring a demo clinic hosted by student-ath- letes and several competitive stations including driving, wedge, and putting challenges. Alumni and donor participants had an exclusive oppor- tunity to engage with members of both programs the entire event as student-athletes and coaches managed the stations. Guests enjoyed music, tours of the facility, food, beverages, participant gifts with towels, ball markers, and custom V-Sabre golf balls, and station prizes for winners. Leading up to the event, VAF hosted an online silent auction to raise funds to support both programs. We appreciate everyone who partici- pated in the event and online auction to support Virginia Golf. Above: Current men's and women's golf student-athletes enjoying Drive at the Dean. Below: Golf clinic hosted by current men's and women's student-athletes. Program participants Kevin Miller, Carla Williams, Cindy Brinker Simmons, Anne Carter Smith and Andres Pedroso celebrating the 3rd annual Emeritus Leadership reunion. TRANSFORM PROPERTY into LEGACY A gift of real estate may allow you to make a greater investment in the future of Virginia Athletics and have tax and other financial benefits. There are several options for making a gift of real estate depending on your goals—contact the Virginia Athletics Foundation for more information. Contact the Virginia Athletics Foundation to learn about the benefits of these gifts: Bequests and Beneficiary Designations | Life Income Gifts | Qualified Charitable Distributions | Gifts of Non-Cash Assets, including Stock and Real Estate PLANNED GIFTS COMBINE YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS WITH SMART FINANCIAL STRATEGIES. virginiaathleticsfoundation.com | 434-982-5555