Fundraising: OVERVIEW & ACTIVITIES

The Auction Committee, run by five Auction Directors, and the Fundraising Committee, comprised of three Fundraising Directors and interested PILA members, are responsible for raising much of the money that goes towards summer fellowships. In past years, PILA has collectively fundraised between $90,000 and $116,000. In addition, the Law School Foundation supports PILA fundraising by matching the net amount raised each year at a 1:1 ratio, producing a total disbursable amount of over $200,000. The following list includes our major year-to-year fundraisers.

Graduation Weekend Housing

This fundraiser matches 3Ls in need of graduation weekend housing for their friends and family with 1Ls and 2Ls who are able to rent their apartment for the weekend (May 15-17, 2008), with the agreement that at least 50% of the rental price will be donated to PILA.

Learn more about the Graduation Weekend Housing program.

PILA T-Shirts for Sale

Buy an attractive new PILA t-shirt, celebrating 25 years of PILA fellowships. (Learn more.)

Auction

Our largest fundraiser is the annual PILA Auction, a live and silent auction and dance party during which professors serve as auctioneers and students bid on items ranging from a week in Hawaii to gift certificates at local restaurants.

Read more about the PILA Auction.

Pong for PILA Tournament

Pong for PILA, now in its third year, is a March Madness style tournament that pits pairs of students against one another in games of beer pong—a variation of ping pong.

In 2007, 96 teams played for the title of Pong for PILA Champion, and raised approximately $4,000 in the process. The final games were played during the school-wide St. Patrick's Day party.

Donations from local vendors and Law School student groups help to make this a successful fundraiser.

Law School Travel and Accomodations Reimbursement Program (L-STAR)

L-STAR encourages UVA Law students to stay with friends or family instead of a hotel during callback interviews. In lieu of paying for hotel expenses, participating firms agree to donate $250 to PILA for each participating student.

Learn more about the L-STAR program.

Fundraising Drive

The Fundraising Drive (formerly known as the Pledge Drive) is a fundraising effort aimed at students and faculty at the law school, asking each to donate to PILA a day's pay (or whatever amount they feel comfortable giving). The student drive takes place in the fall, and the faculty drive takes place in the spring. A number of student organizations donate to PILA as well, including the Libel Show and the SBA.

Used Book and Study Guide Sales

At the end of each semester, PILA collects books donated by UVA law students. These books are stored until the beginning of the next semester when they are sold for a reduced cost. Not only do the proceeds go towards PILA, but the general law student population is given access a large collection of used books.