T-shirt sales raise more than $5K for ALS
East Carolina University Dowdy Student Stores and its vendor, Perfect Promotions & More of Apex, presented a check on July 31 for $5,250 to the ALS Association North Carolina Chapter. The presentation was held at Clark-LeClair Stadium with representatives from the ALS Association, Dowdy Student Stores, Perfect Promotions and ECU baseball coach Cliff Godwin.
The money was raised through sales of “Strike Out ALS” T-shirts at the student store and its souvenir booth at the baseball stadium. A portion of each sale was donated to the ALS state chapter.
“We are grateful to Dowdy Student Stores, Perfect Promotions & More, East Carolina University and everyone who purchased T-shirts to fight ALS this spring,” said chapter president Jerry Dawson. “With their continued commitment to defeat ALS and to honor Coach LeClair, we are getting closer every day to creating a world without ALS.”
Representatives from ECU, Dowdy Student Stores, the ALS Association and Perfect Promotions & More gather for a check presentation on July 31. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
Dowdy Student Stores director Bryan Tuten commended the Pirate Nation fan base.
“I’m always thrilled at the support that Pirate fans show for these cause-related T-shirts,” said Tuten. “I know the proceeds from this ALS support shirt will go a long way to help local patients and their families, and knowing it stays locally makes it even more special.”
The university-operated bookstores sell fund-raising T-shirts for military services, veteran student services and pediatric cancer awareness in addition to the store’s annual contributions to student scholarships.
Perfect Promotions vice president of sales Stephen McFadden is proud to play a role in the effort. McFadden has worked with Dowdy to produce more than 100 officially licensed ECU items. He says his favorite pieces have always been the T-shirts for a cause.
“It’s refreshing to be able to work with a client on supporting local charities and organizations through financial support and raising awareness of their groups. This year will be our fifth year partnering with the Dowdy Store on these T-shirts that have helped raise more than $75,000 in donations to 15 organizations,” said McFadden, an ECU alumnus. “I’m excited to see what the future brings for this program and what other programs we can inspire throughout the community.”
The next T-shirt for a cause will come out in late August and will benefit pediatric cancer awareness. Similar to past years, it will feature the #GoGold tag and will be perfect for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in September and the Paint it Gold football game on Sept. 29, said John Palmer, Dowdy’s merchandise manager.
ECU’s bookstore is a self-operated, university-run store. The campus bookstore doesn’t receive state funding, and maintains services through sales. Profits are directed back to the university community through scholarship contributions and donations to campus projects.
-by Leslie Craigle, ECU Dowdy Student Stores