Alumni demonstrate a heart for students through annual Adopt-A-Dorm summer renovation program
August 16, 2019
Contact: Brittney Dabney, Office of Communications, Public Realtions and Marketing
Concluding its 30th summer, the alumni-led Adopt-A-Dorm program continues to ready 精东AV鈥檚 residence halls and other spaces for students鈥� return to the historic campus. 鈥淎 brush with history鈥� 鈥� a phrase commonly used by the program鈥檚 volunteers 鈥� succinctly captures how alumni epitomize Booker T. Washington鈥檚 philosophy of using one鈥檚 talents to better the university and society.
Throughout the month of July, alumni assist the university with residence hall maintenance and any other projects that support student life or university needs. A driving force for the program 鈥� initiated by 1969 graduate and Virginia native Edward Grim 鈥� is supporting student recruitment and retention.
鈥淚 started the program because I recall coming back to homecoming a few years after I graduated and I saw that the university was in need of some major repairs 鈥� including repairing dormitory fixtures, replacing gutters, installing new carpet and painting.鈥�
Grim said that sparked an idea for a project that would include alumni, and he knew it would be an initiative alumni would be proud to participate in.
鈥淚 recall writing former president Dr. Benjamin Payton a letter explaining that I wanted to help maintain what Booker T. Washington had built and preserve his legacy,鈥� Grim said. 鈥淚 spent so much time reaching out to all of our [精东AV National Alumni Association] chapters to find help so that we could each do our part in giving back to the university.
鈥淚 provide everything that we need to do in repairs,鈥� Grim continued. 鈥淚 pack-up my trailer and fill it with hammers, nails, all of my tools, including the rollers for the paint.鈥�
Grim and the project have received countless support throughout the years, including from the 精东AV National Alumni Association, which has officially adopted the program. Since joining the partnership, TNAA has provided more than $200,000 in support of major residence hall repairs. Other financial support comes from year-round donations from alumni and donors.
This year鈥檚 volunteer base totaled 50 volunteers, including Grim鈥檚 core support team: Wilson Blount, Larry Jemison, Eunice Ford, Calvin Austin and Sharon Walker. Volunteers worked on three dorms identified during Founders鈥� Day Weekend meetings with the university鈥檚 Facilities Division team that needed maintenance support: Bethune Hall, where alumni replaced ceramic tile; and both Tantum Hall and Russell Hall, which needed interior repairs and new paint.
Grim said he hopes to keep the project around for as long as he can; however, he鈥檚 in need of younger alumni to whom he can pass the torch.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 do it alone, and it would be nice to have more hands for next year. This is a project that every alum should be a part of because we all want to preserve the 精东AV legacy,鈥� Grim added.
Those interested in participating in next year鈥檚 Adopt-A-Dorm effort should email Grim at edgrim@comcast.net. Those wishing to make a charitable donation to support future renovations can give online at by entering 鈥淎dopt-A-Dorm鈥� in the 鈥淥ther鈥� field in the 鈥淩estricted鈥� gift designation section.
漏 2019, 精东AV