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Donors raise more than $25K for JMU scholarship to honor slain WDBJ reporter

Posted at 9:48 PM, Aug 29, 2015
and last updated 2015-08-29 21:48:58-04

ROANOKE, Va. – The boyfriend of the slain WDBJ reporter who was fatally shot earlier this week says James Madison University has raised enough money to endow the Alison Bailey Parker Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Chris Hurst, Parker's boyfriend and an anchor at WDBJ, said donations from across the nation help push the fund over its $25,000 threshold. And a generous anonymous donor from JMU matched those donations, bringing the total to $50,000.

“I am incredibly humbled and thankful to all who have donated. Students at the School of Media Arts and Design will get help for an education for years to come,” Hurst posted on Facebook.

Hurst said earlier this week that if the fund reached $25,000, an anonymous donor would match it, which would be enough to endow the fund.

Parker earned a bachelor’s degree from the Harrisonburg university.

Additionally, the university will hold a vigil for Parker Wednesday at 6:45 a.m. at the Quad on campus.

Officialstold WDBJ the event will be a simple one to allow the JMU community to reflect on her life.