ECU Raises $52.3 Million in 2018-19 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's note: The author of this post, Erin Shaw, is a contributor to ECU News Services.


    Between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, East Carolina University alumni, friends, faculty and other supporters committed $52.3 million to the university. This successful fiscal year surpasses last year's fundraising by nearly $10 million.

    The fundraising total comprises $25.7 million for main campus, $18.6 million for athletics and $8 million for the health sciences campus.

    "There are an incredible number of people who are passionate about ECU and that passion shows itself in many ways," Interim Chancellor Dan Gerlach said. "The generosity of donors helps the ECU community meet the needs of our students, their families and the communities that look to this great university for inspiration and leadership. We are committed to being worthy of this support."

    Fundraising was bolstered by a successful Pirate Nation Gives, a day focused on philanthropy and engagement that raised more than $800,000 in 24 hours. Among the gifts were $100,000 to be split between athletics and the Honors College, and a $500,000 gift for the college STEPP Program (Supporting Transitions and Education through Planning and Partnerships), which supports students with learning disabilities.

    The university also received an anonymous $5 million gift to the BB&T Center for Leadership Development to increase opportunities for leadership growth at ECU. Individual donors like Travis and Cassie Burt and James and Connie Maynard gave to areas meaningful to them. The Burts created a professorship in cardiovascular sciences after Dr. Mark Williams, a cardiothoracic surgeon and professor at the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU, performed a successful triple bypass surgery on Travis Burt. The Maynards, with their daughter Easter, gave $1 million to create 1,000 scholarships of $1,000.

    "ECU's supporters continue to give generously to every corner of our campus," said Chris Dyba, vice chancellor for university advancement. "Each gift is a commitment to improving the university, the lives of our students and the communities we serve. That's why an investment in ECU is an investment in the future."

    In addition to individuals, numerous corporations and foundations supported ECU in the fiscal year 2018-19. The Golden LEAF Foundation gave $1 million to support rural economic prosperity through innovation and entrepreneurship. Wells Fargo gave $100,000 for equipment to launch an advanced manufacturing lab in the College of Engineering and Technology, and TowneBank committed $3 million to the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Southside Renovation Project. The new TowneBank tower will be a centerpiece of the renovation, scheduled to open for the fall football season.

    For more information on how to support ECU's mission, visit www.ecu.edu/give.