N.C.’s Greenville According to Pirate Club Executive Director Ryan Robinson, the Carl Rogers family, which includes Carl, his wife, Connie, and their children and grandchildren, has contributed $1 million to the Pirates Unite Campaign for Comprehensive Excellence. Richard Rogers and his wife Elizabeth, Jody Swing and her husband Thomas, Stacy Ward and her husband Jeff, and their grandchildren Davis Rogers, Lilly Kate Rogers, Sarah Swing, Charley Swing, Carly Ward, Avery Ward, and Emmitt Ward make up the Carl Rogers family.
Carl Rogers said, “Our family is fortunate to have the chance to invest in the long-term future of ECU Athletics and our outstanding student-athletes. “Over the years, ECU and the Pirates have helped our family make a tonne of memories. Any Pirate can contribute to the athletics department through the Pirates Unite Campaign, regardless of their level of giving. The college environment is constantly changing, so we must make investments in our sports programs, have cutting-edge facilities that enable us to compete with our peers, and recruit the top student-athletes to join our programs and provide them with a chance to succeed. We have tremendous leadership symmetry in Dr. Philip Rogers and Jon Gilbert, and we fully believe that athletics plays a crucial role in bringing a college campus and community together.”
The Pirate Club and ECU Athletics have become part of the Carl Rogers family’s enduring heritage. Thousands of student-athletes in all Pirate sports programs have benefited from their generosity and leadership, positioning ECU Athletics for long-term success. The family has taken part in a number of capital projects for the Pirate Club, including the Step Up to the Highest Level Campaign, the Clark-LeClair Stadium, the Dowdy-Ficklen Renovation, and the Smith-Williams Basketball Practice Facility. The Carl and Connie Rogers Pirate Club Level carries their names as a result of the family’s major financial contribution to the Dowdy-Ficklen Renovation Campaign. Mr. Rogers was president of the foundation from 2015 to 2016 and is currently serving his second term on the Pirate Club Executive Committee.
The Carl Rogers family donation will help a number of Pirates Unite Campaign initiatives, including the proposed multipurpose indoor facility, the expansion of the new baseball building, and funding for athletic programs, to directly and immediately address operational requirements.
Jon Gilbert, the director of athletics at ECU, remarked, “We are in awe of the Carl Rogers family for their continuing generosity to ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club.” “For this exceptional investment, Carl and Connie, his children Richard, Jody, and Stacy, as well as the entire family, are to be thanked. The family consistently comes through for our athletics department when we needed them to, and they epitomize servant leadership in every manner. They are devoted to the Pirates and demonstrate their support in a variety of ways. They recognize the value of improving the student-athlete experience so that we can attract athletes who will excel both athletically and academically.”
Robinson remarked that it was impossible to express the significance of the Carl Rogers family to the overall success of Pirate Club. “With his leadership, advice, and willingness to support all of our activities, Carl has been a priceless resource for the Pirate Club. First and foremost, Richard, Jody, and Stacy are sincere individuals, and they are giving in honor of their father in part. We are incredibly grateful that they would put money towards ECU Athletics’ long-term success. The Rogers family’s remarkable support of the Pirates Unite Campaign’s lofty aim with such a sizable commitment is encouraging.”
The Pirates Unite Campaign, the Pirate Club’s largest-ever fundraising initiative, benefits from this contribution. The campaign’s declared goal of $60 million was launched in May 2022, however, it has already raised more than $13 million. To date, the campaign has received donations from about 300 people and families.
Visit ecupirateclub.com/piratesunite for more details about the Pirates Unite Campaign for Comprehensive Excellence. Individuals who donate to the campaign receive twice as many priority points.