Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. BENNINGTON â A one-month fund drive to support planning and redevelopment efforts on the former Southern Vermont College campus has easily surpassed the ambitious $500,000 goal. Leaders of the Grateful Bennington campaign and of Southwestern Vermont Health Care, which purchased the 371-acre campus in December, announced Thursday afternoon that the total raised was more than $566,000. âThis was a tremendous testimony to the level of support our community has for, not only the health system, but it also highlights the importance of the SVC property and how people feel about it,â said Thomas Dee, CEO and president of the health care corporation.