Radio figure to raise money for Va. Union

-- Radio personality Tom Joyner will use his nationally syndicated show to help raise funds for Virginia Union University.

Virginia Union also announced yesterday that it has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources. The grant will be used for student scholarships and academic programs.

"The Tom Joyner Morning Show," heard locally on 105.7 FM, will feature VUU throughout January, with a goal of raising $200,000.

"It means national exposure for the school," said Claudia Wall, VUU's director of community relations.

In addition to promoting VUU on his Web site, Joyner's foundation has pledged to match $5,000 from each of five alumni chapters. That match has already brought in $40,000 from four chapters, with a potential to bring in an additional $10,000, Wall said.

The Tom Joyner Foundation has been helping raise money for historically black colleges and universities since 1998.

Joyner's show, which is aired in 115 markets and reaches nearly 8 million people, featured VUU in a similar campaign eight years ago, Wall said. That campaign brought in $200,000. Given the recession, VUU set that as the goal for the current effort.
Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or .