For Tracy Castle-Newman, Virginia Tech has always been more than just her alma mater, it's where her world opened up.
"Coming from upstate New York, Virginia Tech was transformational for me," Castle-Newman, a retired financial sales executive, recalled gratefully. "It gave me confidence to do what I wanted to do."
But when it comes to their story of giving, the real spark came not in a classroom, but under the bright lights of Lane Stadium.
In the early 2000s, Tracy and her husband, Andy Newman, a lifelong New Yorker and Lehigh alum who had never experienced big-time college football, found themselves in the student section for a night game against Miami. The No. 11 ranked Hokies pulled off a decisive victory over No. 2 Miami, leading to a packed Lane Stadium crowd storming the field.
Andy was hooked. "This is the coolest thing in the world," he remembers thinking. On the drive home, the question was obvious: Why don't we have season tickets?
That night was the beginning of a journey. Two season tickets and a single parking pass grew into 12 seats on the 50-yard line, a sprawling tailgate, and a deeper bond with the Virginia Tech community. At first, giving to athletics was simply about better seats and a richer gameday experience. But over the years, something shifted.
"You start small, and maybe it's about reciprocity at first," Tracy explained. "But as you get more engaged, you realize athletics is about so much more. These student-athletes are incredible, and if you can help them succeed, you can transform their lives."
That realization turned the Castle-Newmans from transactional donors into philanthropic ones. They began supporting leadership initiatives, investing in student-athlete development, and even pioneering opportunities. After a conversation with women's golf coach Carol Robertson about the challenges of competing with ACC powerhouses, Tracy established the program's very first scholarship for female golfers. They are also among the founding members of Team First, a super booster group designed to provide the necessary resources for Virginia Tech Football to shift from a challenger brand to a champion brand.
For Tracy, giving has always been about more than dollars: It's about preparing students for life after sports. She often talks about the importance of financial literacy and helping student-athletes translate their leadership on the field into careers off it.
Andy sees it, too: "It started with football, but what keeps us involved is the community. It's family, it's friends, it's networking, it's impact."
The Hokie couple have also acted as steadfast ambassadors to the Hokie Club during their philanthropic journey. Both Tracy and Andy have connected successful Virginia Tech alums to the Hokie Club, bridging the gap between fandom and donorship.
Looking back, the progression to becoming substantial philanthropic donors feels natural. A couple of seats in Lane Stadium became an investment in something far bigger than the scoreboard.
"At first it was about gameday," Tracy said. "Now it's about being aligned with the mission of Virginia Tech Athletics and helping shape the future of these student-athletes."
Andy sums it up best: "It starts as giving. Then it becomes community. And before you know it, it's a part of who you are."