Step Up To The Highest Level
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Co-Chairmen
Taking It [To The Top]. Throughout the years, Pirate Club members have done some heavy lifting in bringing East Carolina University close to the highest tier of collegiate athletics. But there comes a time when everyone needs to help take it to the top. That time is now. To reach that goal, we’re depending on that one additional step from every one of our Pirate Clubbers – those steadfast people who represent one of the largest Division I non-BCS, fund-raising organizations in the country. The passion of the Pirate Nation is well-known and unsurpassed. It’s those folks who, in 2010, set a Pirate Club record for most money raised ever – $6 million in annual fund support.
Left: Henry G. Williamson, Jr. Advance, North Carolina Right: Walter L. Williams Greenville, North Carolina
We know our Purple Pride will get us there. It’s never let us down before.
The
Highest
Level Is Within
Reach.
[What It Takes]
To Reach The
Highest Level.
We’re so close we can actually see the top. Our reputation for all-around excellence is growing rapidly, and justifiably so. It’s difficult to identify an area in which we’re not considered among the nation’s highly distinguished schools.
Simply put, $15 million. That’s the amount of money in private donations necessary to literally keep the ball bouncing. That amount will permit ECU to build a much-needed indoor practice facility for men’s and women’s basketball.
Nowhere is it more evident than the ECU Athletics Program. Pirate Club members have been vital in providing championship facilities for ECU studentathletes, who now have the opportunity to grow physically, mentally and socially. Plus, we’ve enabled our fans to have exceptional game-day experiences.
Call it an investment in furthering the University’s image as a top-notch athletics power. Because that’s what this new venue will help do. It will also create higher visibility and a national identity for our basketball programs, something to which we’ve always aspired.
But as you know, there are goals yet to be reached. Yes, we’re close but we need to Step Up To The Highest Level.
Our plans are to construct a 48,000-square-foot structure north of Minges Coliseum, and will include separate practice courts for men and women. Separate coaches’ office suites. Separate team locker rooms. Separate team meeting rooms. Plus it will house the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame and an area specially designated for Pirate Athletics’ memorabilia for all fans and visitors to enjoy.
“The critical missing piece standing between ECU Athletics and the success we seek will be A DEDICATED PRACTICE FACILITY FOR BASKETBALL!” -- Terry Holland Director of Athletics
Practice And
Preparation: Courting
[Great Achievement].
If ECU is to compete with the top echelon of NCAA basketball programs, a new practice facility is a must, especially given that ECU is one of the few Division I programs in the nation whose men’s and women’s teams practice on a single court – the same court on which they also compete with opponents. Currently, there are three ECU sports vying for practice time in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. But because academic classes use the space until noon every Monday through Friday, a new training venue becomes a clear necessity. Present scheduling interferes with student-athletes’ studying and dining times, which affects their overall performance and college experience. Our blueprints compare quite favorably with basketball practice complexes at Conference USA and other North Carolina schools.
( Playing ) At The
Highest Level.
It’s a dream we have all shared because what we all know is that East Carolina University is a first-rate educational institution that deserves first-rate basketball programs. Actually, we have worked very hard with this in mind with all of our sports endeavors. Our programs have gained great respect. We are taken very, very seriously by our opponents, by our fans, by our potential recruits, and by our great student-athletes who attend ECU. What’s missing, of course, is simply a little bit more nationwide acknowledgement. That final nod and approval by the powers that be. The open secret that tells us that they know what we know. We are committed. We are stepping up to the highest level and we are here to stay.
This major improvement will be a huge boost for round-ball recruiting. Our student-athletes will be able to work on their skill sets via individual practice, and it will enable our teams to have improved scheduling of practice sessions.
“The practice facility is vital to giving our student-athletes a place they can improve individually and as a team. It will provide our players and staff a first class facility that we can be proud of along with making a statement that basketball is important at East Carolina University!” -- Jeff Lebo
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Ba ske tbal l
Practice
Facility
The two-story basketball practice building will accommodate separate courts for the men’s and women’s teams at ECU, in addition to all supporting elements of a top-flight intercollegiate basketball program. In addition, the building will house the ECU Athletics’ Hall of Fame and memorabilia from seasons past. We are also recommitting ourselves by living up to every section of Title IX, something ECU Athletics has always maintained. The benefits of this new facility to ECU’s supporters and student-athletes will be palpable. And there is no telling how much pride and economic benefit great basketball programs will bring to the entire region.
We’re
All
[Part Of The Team].
The new basketball practice building is a part of ECU’s $200 million Second Century Capital Campaign, and is recognized as a key part of the program. Other University sports facilities recently enhanced or under construction include: • Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium’s addition of 7,000 endzone seats bringing the stadium total seating to more than 50,000. • New softball venue. • New track and field facility to be completed in 2011. • New soccer venue to be completed in 2011. • Two-story support building for Olympic sports in 2012. Based on our plans, the coaches have stepped up their recruiting. The student-athletes work incredibly hard every day to step up their game. The University leads in stepping up its commitment to excellence in academics and the college experience. All that remains is for us to step up our level of giving. “The benefits of the proposed basketball practice facility are endless. The accessibility to players for training purposes will elevate our program. I know our staff, current and future players are thrilled about the possibilities.” -- Heather Macy,
Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Big Changes Are
Coming.
As you might imagine, this is a major and ambitious effort, especially because of the economic times in which we live. This fund-raising effort is one that requires new ways of doing things because there’s so much at stake for ECU’s Athletics Program and the entire University. New benefits. New naming opportunities. New challenges. And a whole new approach to building successful basketball programs on the NCAA Division I level. This is our time. Let us step up to the highest level and seize it. We are Pirates, after all, and nothing less than the highest level will suffice.
Questions & Answers: For Those Ready
To Step Up.
Q. Why is the “Step Up To The Highest Level” capital campaign so important? A. East Carolina University wants to provide its athletics teams competitive facilities for the University’s 19 sports, which will enable Pirate coaches to recruit the very best student-athletes and provide them with the opportunity to enhance their skills. For men and women’s basketball, the need for a practice facility has long existed. In the fall of each year, those teams, along with women’s volleyball, compete for practice time in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. Complicating those practice sessions is the use of Williams Arena for classroom space by the School of Health and Human Performance until noon, Monday through Friday. We are not aware of any other Division I program in the nation facing this kind of scheduling dilemma. If we want to give our teams the opportunity for victory, and to be recognized as highly competitive at the highest level of Division I, a practice facility for these sports is a must! Q. Who has endorsed the campaign? A. The Educational Foundation’s “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign has been endorsed by East Carolina University’s Board of Trustees, Chancellor Steve Ballard, Director of Athletics Terry Holland, and the Educational Foundation’s Executive Committee. All parties endorsing this initiative agree that construction of a basketball practice facility is a top priority. Q. Will a gift to the “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign be counted as a gift to the East Carolina University’s “Second Century Campaign”? A. All gifts to the “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign will count toward the University’s $200 million goal set for the “Second Century Campaign”, a comprehensive effort by East Carolina University’s three foundations to make the University an even better institution of higher learning during its second 100 years.
Q. Is my gift to the “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign tax deductible? A. Contributions made on pledges to the campaign generally are deductible as qualifying contributions for income tax purposes. As always, the ECU Educational Foundation, Inc., strongly suggests that a donor consult with his or her income tax advisor in considering a significant gift to a charitable organization. Q. Will I be able to spread out my financial commitment in support of the “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign over a period of time? A. Pledges to the campaign can be made over a period of five years. The timing and amounts of pledge contribution payments can be structured to best meet the cash flow and tax considerations of the Donor. Q. Will my donation count toward my annual gift to the ECU Pirate Club? A. Contributions on pledges to the “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign will not count towards a Donor’s annual fund gift. Donors are encouraged to maintain their present levels, or higher levels, of annual fund support to the Pirate Club during their campaign pledge periods so that the Foundation will be able to meet its annual studentathlete scholarship commitment to ECU Athletics. Q. Can I contribute appreciated assets to the “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign? A. Gifts of appreciated assets, such as marketable securities, can be used as a contribution for an annual fund or capital pledge to the ECU Educational Foundation. Under current tax laws, appreciated assets provide an excellent vehicle for maximizing a gift to a qualifying charitable institution, by providing avoidance of capital gains taxation on appreciated asset amounts. In the case of other appreciated assets such as real estate, artwork, etc., acceptance of such contributions toward a capital pledge is subject to the prior approval of the Foundation’s Executive Committee.
Q. What benefits will I accrue by contributing to the “Step Up To The Highest Level” campaign?
Steering Committee
A. Beyond the personal satisfaction one enjoys from investing in the future of ECU Athletics, there are additional direct benefits a Donor will receive from participating in this campaign:
Jim Creech, Greenville, NC
1. Campaign gifts of $100,000 or more provide Donors with a 14”-16” bronze statue modeled after the Pirate sculpture standing tall in the Harold H. Bate Plaza. These limited-edition statues will be cast by Hanna Jubran and his wife, Jodi Hollnagel-Jubran, the artists who sculpted the original. 2. Gifts of $25,000 or more provide Donors with unique naming opportunities associated with ECU’s athletics facilities. (A complete list is available upon request.) 3. Campaign gifts of $10,000 and above provide Donors with name recognition on a bronze plaque which will be prominently hung in the proposed basketball practice facility. 4. Gifts of $3,000 provide donors with name recognition on lockers in the proposed Olympic Sports Building. 5. Gifts of $1,000 or more provide Donors with an inscribed, recognition brick paver placed, at the Donor’s discretion, in either the Basketball Practice Building Plaza, Olympics Sports Plaza or the Harold H. Bate Plaza (Pirate statue area). 6. Donors will receive Pirate Club priority points (2 points per $100 contributed). Bonus priority points will be awarded on contributions made during the Donor’s first pledge year (150%) and on contributions made during the second pledge year (125%). In addition to the above opportunities, permanent season ticket seat rights can be secured with a gift of $3,500 per seat in either the new softball and soccer venues, or $5,000 per seat in Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Steve Jones, Raleigh, NC Charles S. Lanier, Jacksonville, NC Diane Murphrey, Ayden, NC Robert Don Parrott, Greenville, NC Mike Rogers, Cary, NC Michael (Mike) Steadman, Fayetteville, NC George C. (Porgie) Turner, Wilmington, NC Reid Tyler, Raleigh, NC Walter L. Williams, Greenville, NC (Co-Chairman) Henry G. Williamson, Jr., Advance, NC (Co-Chairman) Samuel (Sam) Wornom, III, Sanford, NC
ECU Educational Foundation, Inc. Ward Sports Medicine Building East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858-4353 (252) 737-4540
www.ecupirateclub.com