Pirate Nation Gives expands participation opportunities

Graduating students can purchase philanthropy honor cords to wear during commencement. The program is part of the university’s effort to increase participation opportunities during its annual day of giving. (ECU photo by George Crocker)

There are more ways than ever to participate in this year’s Pirate Nation Gives — East Carolina University’s annual day of giving.

The day begins at 12 a.m. on March 20. Show your support for Pirate Nation by making a gift online to your area of interest at ECU. Your donations help fund opportunities for current and future students, from academic programming to extramural programs like undergraduate research and study abroad learning experiences.

Student involvement

On March 20, Pirate Nation Gives representatives will be on the main campus and the health sciences campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to promote student involvement. Pirate Nation Gives tables will be set up at both student centers.

Students can participate in three ways:

• Make a donation
• Write a thank you card to a PNG donor; or
• Share PNG content on their social media accounts.

Students who participate in two of the three activities will receive a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.

Philanthropy honor cords

Graduating students can receive philanthropy honor cords to highlight their giving spirit during commencement.

Students can donate $20.24 — in honor of their graduation year — to a fund of their choosing and receive a cord.

The purple and gold cords can be obtained at the student involvement tables at the Main Campus and Health Sciences Campus student centers during Pirate Nation Gives. Cords also will be available online until March 31. Additional pick-up information will be available to those who make a $20.24 donation.

Find PeeDee’s mateys

Pirate fans will have an opportunity to get interactive during PNG by finding PeeDee’s mateys. PeeDee squishies will be scattered across ECU’s campuses — from main campus to the Health Sciences Campus, the Outer Banks Campus and even to the ECU Tuscany Campus in Italy.

Use clues posted on the official ECU Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts to find PeeDee’s mateys locations. Follow the directions attached to the plushie and win $500 for the fund in your area of interest.

And oh yeah, you get to keep PeeDee, too.

PNG challenges

Feeling competitive? There are university-wide PNG challenges designed to give you an opportunity to show off for your gift area.

• First website gift: When Pirate Nation Gives goes live at midnight on Wednesday, the very first donor will secure an extra $3,000 in bonus money for the fund their gift supports. The donor with the second gift after midnight will earn $1,000 for the fund their gift supports.
• Final website gift: The last donor to submit a gift by 11:59:59 p.m. on Wednesday will receive an extra $3,000 in bonus money to the fund they supported. The donor with the gift immediately before the final gift will earn $1,000 for the fund their gift supports.
• Farthest-away gift: The donor whose billing address is the farthest from campus will win an additional $2,000 in bonus money for the fund their gift supports. Missed it by a mile? The next farthest address will receive $1,000 in bonus money for the fund their gift supports for their efforts as well.
• Most student participants: Make your gift online and be sure to tell us you’re a student. The fund that receives the most student participant support will win an additional $2,000 in bonus money. The second-place fund will receive $1,000 in bonus money.
• Most gifts challenge: The area of campus that receives the most gifts, based on donor count, will receive an additional $2,000 in bonus money. The area in second place at the end of the day will receive $1,000 in bonus money.
• Increase the funds challenge: The top two individual funds that end Pirate Nation Gives with the most dollars raised will receive additional bonus money: $2,000 for first place and $1,000 for second place.