The Big Event Resource Guide
What is The Big Event?
The Big Event at Virginia Tech is a student-led day of community engagement that has grown into the second largest event of its kind in the nation. Each spring, thousands of students, faculty, and staff unite to complete nearly 1,200 community service projects throughout Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and the New River Valley – all as a way to say thank you to the community.
Since its start in 2002, The Big Event at Virginia Tech has grown exponentially. Inspired by Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), it brings the entire Virginia Tech community together in gratitude to serve its surrounding communities. As the university’s largest community service event, alumni chapters are also encouraged to join in by organizing service projects and events in their own communities!
When, where, and how can alumni chapter get involved?
Chapters are invited to host their service projects anytime in April. There are no restrictions on the type of project you choose. Hokies know that no job is too small to make a difference! To participate:
- Opt-in by the deadline to share your plans with the Regional Engagement team.
- Begin recruiting and organizing volunteers, coordinating with your project beneficiary if needed, and preparing for your service day.
- Chapters that opt-in by the deadline will receive The Big Event T-shirts to distribute to volunteers ahead of their project.
Host a Big Event After-Party
- Consider hosting a casual social gathering or fundraiser to celebrate your chapter’s efforts and strengthen Hokie connections in your community.
- Invite your local community to give back – and then kick back – with their Hokie family!
Fundraising Opportunity
- Consider incorporating a fundraising component into your after-party, with proceeds benefiting the local community organization, your chapter’s scholarship fund, The Big Event, or any Virginia Tech supported fund.
- Utilize a central Advancement registration link to register and track guest participation, collect revenue to offset costs for your event, and provide a way for guests to make a tax-deductible gift to your scholarship fund.
- Incorporate drawings, silent auctions, and/or QR codes, for guests to make direct-online gifts to the designated cause.
Hokie Hospitality
- All you need is a great spot, but a few light provisions never hurt! Each chapter determines its event budget based on the registration fee (if applicable) and available local funds.
- Event provisions should align with this budget and will vary by chapter. Common examples include:
- Snacks or appetizers, depending on the time of day.
- Non-alcoholic beverages.
- Limited bar service, a drink ticket option, and/or the option for guests to purchase alcoholic beverages.
The Big Event communications campaign
The Big Event communications campaign provides comprehensive support to help chapters reach alumni in their region, to include:
- Promotion of service event and/or social event on The Big Event landing page.
- Digital media kit with templates for social media and email.
- Regional emails to local alumni.
- Social media promotion – chapters are encouraged to share event details on their local channels to boost attendance and visibility.
Opt-in to host
Chapters that opt-in by the program deadline will receive:
- Administrative support and registration link setup.
- The Big Event T-shirts to distribute to chapter volunteers.
- Central communications support to promote chapter events from March 1 until the service event has been completed.
- Promotion on The Big Event landing page, a Virginia Tech Student Affairs initiative.