In a strong start to the University’s $3 billion campaign, McIntire graduates and NFL All-Pros Ronde and Tiki Barber (McIntire ’97) and their families recently visited Grounds to announce a $1 million gift to the University.

It was especially good luck that both Tiki and Ronde were able to participate in the University’s campaign kickoff in person during the last weekend of September—by sheer chance, it was both Barbers’ bye week. Ronde is a Cornerback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Tiki is a Running Back with the New York Giants.

The Barbers’ gift will be made in two parts, with the first $500,000 divided among the McIntire School, the Virginia Athletics Foundation, the U.Va. Children’s Hospital, the U.Va. Alumni Association’s Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund, and the Young Alumni Council. The second half of the gift was given in the form of a challenge grant, designed specifically to encourage young alumni to participate in the campaign.

The Barber twins have actively supported the University since their graduation. Tiki Barber served on the Young Alumni Council and is the founder of a program called MY-D-CAV (My Yearly Dollars Count at Virginia) that encourages young alumni to support the University. The Barbers will be celebrating their 10th class reunion in spring 2007 and hope that the challenge will spur giving on the part of their classmates.

“We want to be an example to other alumni, to encourage them to participate in this campaign,” said Ronde Barber. “We want to emphasize that now is the time for our fellow alumni to join us.”

“For us, at this time in our lives, to be able to do this is phenomenal,” said Tiki. “We’ve both done pretty well as NFL players, and…a lot of that is a result of being here at the University—not only being mentored and guided as football players, but being guided as people.”

Said McIntire Dean Carl Zeithaml, “The Commerce School is very proud to count Ronde and Tiki Barber among our many successful alumni, not simply because they are All-Pros in their profession, but because they are All-Pros as people. Ronde, Tiki, and their families provide extraordinary service to their communities. They are very effective in their business endeavors, and they are loyal alumni of the School and University. On behalf of the Commerce School, we appreciate their vision and energy.”

During their professional careers, Tiki and Ronde have distinguished themselves both on and off the field, earning All-Pro honors and being elected to the Pro Bowl while also supporting charitable literacy groups and participating in numerous volunteer activities. Together, they have served as national co-captains of the National Education Association’s “Read Across America” literacy celebration, and they have written three successful children’s books: By My Brother’s Side, Teammates, and Game Day.

Ronde and his wife, Claudia, are the parents of two daughters, Yammile Rose and Justyce Rosina. Tiki and his wife, Ginny, are the parents of two sons, A.J. and Chason.