The West Virginia University Foundation has won a prestigious Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Award for its Band Aid Drive. The Foundation received a gold award in the educational fund-raising category.

The goal was to raise $270,000 to purchase 400 new uniforms for the WVU Mountaineer Marching Band, thePride of West Virginia.The drive received $440,000 from some 1,800 donors with all additional funds committed to the purchase of band instruments.

The band will be proudly sporting those new uniforms during its Jan. 1 appearance at the Toyota Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

During the Band Aid Drive, the Foundation developed an aggressive marketing plan that covered the entire state of West Virginia and a solicitation plan which focused on alumni and friends throughout the United States. Sponsorships were secured from United Bank and Friends of Coal to assist with statewide marketing. The WVU Alumni Association and the Athletic Department also were partners in the drive.

The CASE Award will be presented to the Foundation at the Awards Gala event during theCASE District II Conference Feb. 10-13 in New York City.

CASE District II is headquartered in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. In addition to West Virginia, District II consists of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Ontario.