Couple offers challenge as gift to Germanna

MASSAPONAX — Consider yourself challenged.
Bruce and Sandy Davis of Fredericksburg announced plans Feb. 8 to donate up to $100,000 to Germanna Community College's educational foundation as part of a matching-gift campaign to raise money for GCC's annual fund.
The couple pledges to match all "unrestricted funds" dollar-for-dollar donated to the foundation by anyone in the community.
"We wanted to do something significant for Germanna Community College and its educational foundation," said Bruce Davis, who serves as the foundation's president. "We hope that this challenge gift will help inspire others to support one of the most important assets in our community.
"There are few families in Germanna's seven-county service region that have not been touched in some significant way by the educational offerings and the benefits of the college."
About 225 Germanna employees gathered for the college's "Learning Day" inside Room 212 at the Fredericksburg campus to hear the news.
Dubbed the "Bruce and Sandy Davis Annual Fund Challenge Campaign," the fundraiser will provide money for students to help pay for college costs. The campaign will conclude when the $100,000 in matching donations has been collected.
"This is one of the most significant gifts in the history of the Germanna Community College Educational Foundation," said GCC President David A. Sam. "It has the potential to generate a total of $200,000 in donations, which will help both the college and the foundation address important needs. I am deeply grateful to Sandy and Bruce for their ongoing commitment to Germanna and its students."
Modestly accepting applause from the crowded room, Bruce Davis quickly shared his reasons for giving.
"My wife, Sandy, and I are in a position to put our money where our mouth is," Bruce Davis said. "And we need to juice up our foundation to bring it to a new level of fundraising ability, and one way to do that is through this challenge fund."
Unrestricted gifts donated to the foundation go into an annual fund, also known as the "Fund for Germanna Community College." That fund supports the annual operational needs of the foundation and the college, according to Mike Zitz, director or media and community relations.
"Without a strong annual fund that is supported by unrestricted gifts each year," said Bruce Davis, who also serves on the college's local board and advisory board, "there would be so many projects that the foundation would be unable support. We are grateful that Germanna has donors who realize the importance of this form of annual support."
Each year, about 300 students receive more than $175,000 in scholarship funds through the foundation.
Until recently, Bruce Davis served as vice president and part owner of Freeman Beverage — a Stafford-based wine and beer distributor — a position he's held for more than 20 years.
Sandy Davis works as a patient services coordinator at the Cancer Center of Mary Washington Healthcare. The couple moved to the Fredericksburg area in 1989.
***
In other news, GCC’s president presented several $1,000 ceremonial checks to the recipients of the President's Recognition of Excellence awards.
The Germanna honorees included:
▪ Donna Alexander, a part-time employee in the tutoring center
▪ Bonnie Dixon, a part-time nursing adjunct professional
▪ Don Frank, a full-time business instructor
▪ Martha O'Keefe, a full-time administrative employee in the Workforce Center
▪ Tina Parker, a full-time employee in the technical services department

Frank made an announcement of his own.
He promised to donate his $1,000 gift to the "Bruce and Sandy Davis Annual Fund Challenge Campaign" in which the Davises will match that amount up to $100,000 to help raise money for scholarships.
"You just cost me $1,000," Bruce Davis jokingly said to Frank.
Rhonda Simmons writes for Media General’s Culpeper Star-Exponent.