Sale of T-Shirts on Campus Raises Funds for ALS Association
ECU Dowdy Student Stores and their vendor, Perfect Promotions & More of Apex, presented a check Wednesday, Aug. 7 for $3,504 to the ALS Association North Carolina Chapter. The check presentation was held at the new student store location on campus. Representatives from the ALS Association, Dowdy Student Stores, Perfect Promotions, ECU Pirate Baseball Coach Cliff Godwin and ECU administrators were on hand for the presentation.
The money was raised through sales of “Strike Out ALS” T-shirts at ECU Dowdy Student Stores on campus and their souvenir booth at Clark-LeClair Stadium during baseball season, including the regional championship. A portion of the sale of each shirt was donated by both Dowdy Student Stores and their vendor, Perfect Promotions and More of Apex, NC. Over $19,000 has been raised for the ALS Association through the sale of these T-shirts in the past four years.
ECU Dowdy Student Stores present a $3,504 check to the ALS Association North Carolina Chapter on Aug. 7. The money was raised through sales of “Strike Out ALS” T-shirts. Pictured from left are: Bill Koch, ECU associate vice chancellor for Campus Safety & Auxiliary Services; Bryan Tuten, director, ECU Dowdy Student Stores; Sarah Thorndike, ECU vice chancellor of Administration and Finance; ECU Baseball Coach Cliff Godwin; Dave Storm, chief operating officer, ALS Association – NC Chapter; Mark Anthony, board chairman, ALS Association – NC Chapter; Leah Strom, corporate development specialist, ALS Association – NC Chapter; Stephen McFadden, president, Perfect Promotions; and Bob Walker, associate director, ECU Dowdy Student Stores. (Photo by Houston McCullough)
Chief Operating Officer Dave Shore accepted the check on behalf of the ALS Association, North Carolina Chapter, along with Mark Anthony, chairman of the board, and Leah Strom, corporate development specialist for the chapter.
Dowdy Student Stores Director Bryan Tuten said he was very pleased the Pirate Nation fan base was so supportive of the shirts.
“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 also sell fundraising T-shirts for military services, veteran student services and pediatric cancer awareness, in addition to the store’s student scholarship contributions made annually.
Perfect Promotions Vice President of Sales Stephen McFadden is also proud to play a role in the effort. As a vendor of Dowdy Student Stores and a 2010 ECU alumnus, McFadden enjoys partnering with the store on projects like this that give back to the local community.
The next “cause shirt” will come out in late August and will benefit pediatric cancer awareness. According to Dowdy merchandise manager John Palmer, 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. 21.
East Carolina’s bookstore is a self-operated, university-run store. They receive no state funding. Instead, the campus bookstore maintains its services through their sales. Dowdy Student Stores are the top retailer of licensed ECU Pirate clothing and logo merchandise, and profits are then directed back to the university community through scholarship contributions and other donations to campus projects.
-by Leslie Craigle, University Communications