A Shared Commitment—Family, Students, Camp Greenbrier and ODU

Bob and Maria Hood have dedicated their lives to educating young people. Bob taught mathematics for 34 years at Northampton High School on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, and Maria enjoyed a long career as the Coordinating Teacher for gifted students in the Northampton County School System. The Hoods believe that being around students has kept them young at heart. In fact, they enjoy students so much that they also spend their summers operating Camp Greenbrier, a camp focused on building character and leadership in boys. For the Hoods, Camp Greenbrier holds much more meaning than just another summer camp—it means family tradition.

Maria is the daughter of the late Theodore and Mildred Garnett of Norfolk, better known as “The and Kitty.” Her father graduated from the Norfolk Division of William & Mary in 1959, beginning a legacy that connected his family to ODU. Together, the Garnetts owned and operated Camp Greenbrier from 1948 to 1973. After gifting the camp to Maria and Bob in 1974, the Garnetts continued to be an integral part of Camp Greenbrier each summer for the rest of their lives.

Maria received her B.A. from Sweet Briar College in 1961, and her M.S. from ODU in 1971. Bob grew up in Ocean View and since 1962, he has spent every summer at the camp. He later received his B.S. in psychology in 1967 and his M.S. in counseling in 1972 from ODU.

Similar to the Hoods’ commitment to Camp Greenbrier, Bob and Maria have supported ODU consistently for more than 20 years. “It is our obligation to give back to our alma mater,” Bob said. But they wanted to do more—particularly for students from the school system where they had taught. While working with ODU’s Gift Planning Office, the Hoods learned that they could design a scholarship to help future students from Virginia’s Eastern Shore. They decided to fund a scholarship through a beneficiary designation in a retirement account. “We hope others learn how easy this was,” Maria said. “All we had to do was sign a beneficiary form.”

Some years ago, Maria and Bob handed the reins of Camp Greenbrier over to their son, Will Harvie, and his wife, Lenka. Bob and Maria still assist with the camp operations and like her parents, never miss a summer. For the Hoods, Camp Greenbrier has been the centerpiece of their family for three generations, and their hope is to continue this tradition for generations to come.

You too can build a legacy of support that spans generations. If you would like to discuss gift options available for you to help ensure ongoing student success at ODU, please contact Barbara M. Henley, CFRE at 757/683-6563 or bhenley@odu.edu or Brett A. Smiley, CFRE at 757-683-4735 or bsmiley@odu.edu.