RESOUNDING SUCCESS

ECU raises $500K on second annual giving day

East Carolina University’s second annual Pirate Nation Gives fundraising day on March 21 raised $500,214 in 24 hours, far surpassing last year’s $273,663.

The one-day, social-media-driven effort encouraged alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends to donate money to support the university and its programs.

In honor of ECU’s 111^th year, goals of 111 gifts of $111 and 500 #PirateNationGives hashtags on social media were set. ECU met those goals, with exactly 111 donations of $111 and more than 700 #PirateNationGives hashtags. In total, 484 donors made gifts.

“The engagement from alumni, parents, and friends of ECU on our second annual day of giving was overwhelmingly positive,” said Christopher Dyba, vice chancellor for university advancement. “I’m inspired and impressed by the way Pirate Nation came together to support our students and our future. We are truly grateful to all the donors whose generosity will help improve every corner of campus.”

Thanks to private donors who pledged challenge gifts, Pirate Nation Gives was able to maximize the day’s impact and unlock an extra $50,000 for the university. ECU also received the first endowment to support Voyages of Discovery: The Ms. Harvey S. Wooten Voyages of Discovery Endowment.

Well-known actress and alumna Emily Procter (The West Wing, CSI: Miami) donated and encouraged her fellow 1991 classmates to give. “ECU is a true step toward independence,” she said. “I wandered into the dance department and it changed my life.”

For more information on Pirate Nation Gives, go to ecu.edu/piratenationgives. More information on donating to ECU can be found at ecu.edu/give.