Join Us!!
Dear Classmates,
Happy New Year!
We hope you all are beginning this new year in a prosperous and blessed manner. As we journey into this new year, our team would like to share a few essential items regarding Radiance 1983 and our continued class success.
Our team has been working diligently to keep you informed regarding our class events and those sponsored by the university. Please see the upcoming events that we hope you will participate in.
Upcoming events & Important Items:
Day of Giving:
Friday, April 11th, 2025. ONE DAY OF GIVING
Give $19.83 or whatever you can give! These donations go towards our giving goals.
Ole School Party (2025 event TBD)
Classmate Howard (Howie) Smith did a phenomenal job getting Radiance included in the Ole School Party. Our participation in the revived event yielded our class a profit of $2,300. Thank you again, Howie. The Ole school party will be held again this year, and details will follow. Our class had the highest turnout rate of all the classes that participated (53 classmates). Let's get this number up as much as possible.
National Day of Giving: (TBD)
This event is worldwide!
"City By City":
Chairperson Norletta Edmond
A fundraising opportunity for and with our classmates. The goal of the “City by City” initiative is to promote inclusiveness with our classmates, to raise funds for our Home by the Sea and Radiance 1983,
The objective is to host events twice a year sponsored by our Regional Representatives who have volunteered throughout the country. Each region will use its resources, creativity, organizational management skills, and, most importantly, the representatives/team's passion for Bringing the Heat! These events will be open to alumni and the public.
Please contact Chairperson ASAP norlettaedmond1983@gmail.com
Homecoming 2025:
“JUTE BOX JAMS”
Angela Fullwood Robertson Event Coordinator
Homecoming 2024's "Game Night" was an outstanding event—what a turnout! We look forward to seeing you at the annual
Thursday night fundraising event October 23rd 2025.
Our event will be held at the Holiday Inn in Newport News. 980 Omni Blvd. New Port News, VA. 23606
Wear your favorite Hampton University GEAR
Classmates it really assists in the planning of events when you purchase your tickets prior to the event. We have upfront costs to pay for and we would appreciate your support. It will save you some money as well. Door entry fees will be different than pre-ticket sales.
We had some great vendors last year. If you have a business or know someone in the area that would like to be a vendor,please have them contact me at the radiance1983@gmail.com. Vending fees for Radiance classmates will be $150.00 and $200.00 for non-Radiance vendors. First come first serve.
Bring your cash....RAFFLE TIME!!!! 50/50
Room Blocks:
(First come first serve)
We were also able to secure some rooms as well. Please make your reservations ASAP by calling the hotel. Holiday Inn Newport News/Hampton
HOTEL 757.223.2110 | FAX 757.223.2114 |
Holiday Inn Newport News at City Center
http://www.holidayinn.com/newport news va | 980 Omni Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606 | 757.223.2110
Holiday Inn Newport News-Hampton for Radiance Class of 1983: Your group members can now call to make reservations. Please be sure they identify themselves as being with the group and refer to the group code, R83.
-The phone number for the Holiday Inn Newport News- Hampton is (757) 223-2110 and the toll-free number for Holiday Inn Central Reservations is 800-465-4329.
Reservations can also be made online. Simply click or cut and paste the link below. You will be directed to the property's home page, where they can pick the room type they want and reserve their rooms.
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Class Business:
Financial report
prepared by our treasurer Cheryl Roberts
Summary of the annual activity, which reconciles to the year-end bank balances
Checking account
This money has been used for the past 2 years to raise money for the annual homecoming event. For 2024, our class homecoming event was at the Holiday Inn. The checking account also pays our bills, such as website fees. Because of its uses, this account will typically range between $500-3,000 at all times.
Savings account
This account was opened in December 2024. There has been no decision as to how the money will be used. The money to open the account was primarily generated from the 2024 Ole School party overseen by Howard Smith. TBD as to its growth.
Endowment –Elaine Robertson
Our class is working toward fully funding our $50,000 Endowment, with $46,000 remaining to be raised within the next 3 years. To streamline and facilitate the ease of the contribution, Radiance has a designated section on the University's giving page where funds can be directly transferred to this account. Detailed instructions for making contributions are provided below.
Class Giving
A $50,000 goal is due annually by 6/30/2025, 6/30/2026 and 6/30/2027. For the fiscal year ending 6/30/2024, we exceeded our goal by $85,296. Classmates send money directly to the University, which is applied to the fiscal year of one’s giving. Hampton University oversees class giving and reports those amounts quarterly.
We have a Class Gift expectation of $485,000 due 6/30/2028
Radiance is also responsible for class giving in NON-Reunion years
Please see attached reports below
Radiance 1983 Endowment
Chairperson Elaine Robertson
In alignment with Elevating Hampton Excellence, the initiative that outlines Hampton University's strategic plan for the next decade, the Radiance Class of 1983 would like to partner with the University to grow the endowment to $1 Billion.
Radiance Class of 1983 aims to establish a $50,000 endowed scholarship to present to The University at our 45th class reunion.
Our class has always been committed and invested in the financial sustainability of The University, as well as providing ongoing financial aid for our future student body; this donorship goal and its realization will translate these sentiments of our class into lifelong, tangible benefits.
Steps to Take to Help Fund Radiance, Class of 1983 Endowment:
- Go to the University's Giving Page: https://bit.ly/4jrghuG
- Select "OTHER"
Call to action for Radiance 1983
Let’s “Bring The Heat”
Classmates, we look forward to working for our class. However, we need your assistance in locating other classmates who are not active with our class. If you are in contact with non-active classmates, please send their information to our class email address, radiance1983@gmail.com or have them get in touch with us.
We graduated with 200 plus classmates, and we see/communicate with less than 50% of that number.
We would be able to achieve our giving goals if we had 100% participation. Please help us out by getting the word out to Radiance Alumni.
Commit to helping our class to connect and to getting to our financial goals!
We would love to hear from you if you have questions or concerns regarding the above or other items that may help our class achieve its goals. Do you have fundraising ideas? we NEED to hear from you!
Thank you to the classmates behind the scenes who help our classmates laugh, question, and think! Brian Scott, Rember Berthy, Stephani Ormond, Sharon Callahan.
