Whit Hunter Photo by Cole Geddy
A sheepskin diploma from the Class of 1852, a copy of Corks & Curls from 1895, chinaware from the 1940s depicting University of Virginia landmarks – these are just a few of the things that are helping to fund the Rotunda restoration.
Whit Hunter, a third-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences who grew up in Charlottesville attending U.Va. football games, watching his father teach and his siblings learn at the University, is auctioning these and other memorabilia online to raise money for RestoreUVA.
"This is an incredible collection. There are some amazing, once-in-a-lifetime pieces on there," Hunter said.
He became involved in the Rotunda restoration initiative as chair of the Jefferson Society's Restoration Ball, to be held March 24. He first learned of the Restoration Ball efforts while helping his friend (and current housemate) Shep Ware, put it on last year.
"He did such a great job with it," Hunter said. When the Jefferson Society held elections in the spring, Hunter took over the reins.
The bulk of the items originate from one collector, with whom Hunter connected through another Jefferson Society member, Scott Tumperi. The pair spent hours looking through the collection. Learning that the donor was interested in selling some of the items to an auction house, Hunter proposed, "Why not put this online for the people who care about these items the most – stakeholders of the University?"
The auction allows the donor – who has asked to remain anonymous – to recoup the original price of the items and for RestoreUVA to add a markup that will go directly to the Rotunda restoration. Hunter, an Echols Scholar studying entrepreneurship and innovation, said the idea of creating value for all parties excites him.
He estimated the compounded value of the items currently on auction at $250,000. There are another $2 million worth of items that he and his collaborators would like to add to the website. He said he thinks that the fundraiser could raise more than $1 million.
"It's a question of getting the word out," he said. The Office of the Architect predicts that Phase I of the Rotunda restoration, replacing the roof, will cost $4.7 million.
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet. Begin the discussion below!
Leave a Comment