Pirate Nation Gives creates impact across ECU

Alumni and friends answered the call to support East Carolina University during Pirate Nation Gives on March 20.

The eighth annual day of giving event surpassed expectations and raised more than $8.6 million in support of university priorities, including student scholarships, health care initiatives, athletics, and faculty and program support. In the first minute of the day, 64 donors made gifts setting off donations from on campus and across the country as more than 2,800 Pirates gave during the 24-hour fundraiser.

Students, faculty and staff participated in Pirate Nation Gives through a variety of on-campus initiatives aimed at building engagement. Students accounted for 16% of the day’s donors.

Notable gifts this year include the following:

• Chris Campbell, an industrial technology student, who honored his late mother by creating the Pamela A. Garriques Excellence in Logistics Scholarship Fund in the College of Engineering and Technology.
• Richard Cobb ’68, who established the Richard Cobb Sr. Freshmen Recruitment Scholarship Endowment in academic affairs and made a $25,000 gift to support the endowment.
• Max Joyner Sr., who made a $15,000 gift to support the Marching Pirates.
• David E. McCracken, who gave $15,000, and the Veteran Smiles Foundation, which made a $10,000 gift, to support the ECU Veteran Patient Care Fund in the School of Dental Medicine. The combined gifts support the expansion of the Veteran Smiles program statewide.
• Oak Foundation’s $50,000 donation to the University Priority Fund for Greatest Needs, which helps the university to respond to immediate and pressing financial needs across ECU.
• Support for Voyages of Discovery, unlocking a $40,000 match for the community lecture series.