GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Pirate Club announced today that the Derek Dunn family has made a generous $1 million investment into the Pirates Unite Campaign for Comprehensive Excellence, marking a significant milestone in their longstanding support for ECU Athletics. The funds are directed toward the Isley Indoor Performance Center.
Derek and Betsy Dunn, along with their daughter Kempton, son Peyton and his wife Emily Drake, have a long history of involvement with the Pirate Club spanning over four decades. This substantial contribution reflects their unwavering commitment to ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club.
"Our entire family is fortunate to give back to a community, university and athletics department that has played such an impactful role in our lives," Mr. Dunn said. "This is a special community and region, and the Pirates play an influential role in that. We believe in the vision of the athletics department as they chart the future and want to play our role in giving our student-athletes all the resources they need to be successful on and off the field."
"Thank you to Derek and Betsy for their continued commitment to ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club," ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. "This contribution will undoubtedly make a significant impact on our student-athletes. With the Dunn family history of philanthropic giving and involvement in previous campaigns, it is evident that the family's support has been instrumental in the success of various initiatives at ECU. We are grateful to all the amazing support we have received for the ongoing campaign."
Mr. Dunn, a native of Greenville and a graduate of J.H. Rose High School and North Carolina State University, was the owner of DPD Concrete for 41 years. The company quickly grew throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. His company was instrumental in various building projects for ECU Athletics for the past 24 years, contributing significantly to the growth and development of athletic facilities.
Ms. Dunn is a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate and has joined her husband in supporting several initiatives of the Pirate Club, including the Dowdy-Ficklen Renovation and Second Century campaigns.
"We are so appreciative of Derek, Betsy and the entire Dunn family," Pirate Club Executive Director Ryan Robinson said. "The Dunn family are what make Greenville such a special community. It's clear that their longstanding commitment to ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club reflects a deep dedication to the university and its student-athletes. As we near our fundraising goals on several projects, we are hopeful others can lead us over the finish line."
Launched in May 2022, the $60 million Pirates Unite Campaign is the most ambitious fundraising effort in Pirate Club history with critical funds being used to ensure a bright future for the Pirates by investing in the long-term health of the department. The collective impact of the ECU community, alumni, students, and friends have helped raise more than $31 million for the campaign with several projects already completed.
The proposed 101,000 square-foot Isley Indoor Performance Center will consist of a steel structure, a 120-yard synthetic turf football practice field, LED lighting, scoreboards, clocks, sound system and graphics. The facility will reside on top of the current multipurpose turf field next to the existing football turf practice facility. All sport programs will have access to the facility to train.
Construction will begin when funding is complete with over $21 million of the expected $24 million raised. For more information about the Pirates Unite Campaign for Comprehensive Excellence, please visit
ecupirateclub.com/piratesunite. Individuals earn double priority points with a gift to the campaign.
