Chowan Gives 2023

Charles Pond, Board of Trustee member, is matching, dollar for dollar, each gift up to $250, in memory of his late wife Juanita Kelly Pond, April 5th from 10 am-3 pm or until the $20,000 match is gone.

Brothers, Al and Mark Parker, are challenging their friends and family to make a gift to The Parker Family Music Scholarship Endowment Fund. They have pledged $5,000 to match all donations given to this fund.

Mick and Carol Outten challenge friends and alumni to support the Chowan Fund. Your gift to the Chowan Fund helps in multiple areas of campus. The Outten family’s $10,000 contribution will unlock once 50 donations are given to the Chowan Fund.

Grace Brown, daughter of Bynum and Shirley Graham Brown, is giving the landscaping for the new Chapel that will become the Shirley Graham Brown Memorial Garden. Grace is very excited about honoring her parents with this memorial gift. It is important to Grace, who has a close relationship with Chowan University, to express her dedication through a living legacy on behalf of her parents. We challenge other friends of the University to give in honor of their loved ones. In order to honor your loved ones, support the Chapel Challenge today. When 50 gifts are given in support of the Chapel Campaign, her gift of $25,000 will be fully realized. Your gifts will then be recognized inside the Chapel.

The Chowan Christian Service Association (CCSA) provides opportunities for students to serve in Jesus’ name through tuition scholarships and missions endowments. Established in 2005 with the late Rev. Ronald McSwain as the first director, countless individuals and churches are partnering in support of the education and the preparation of future ministers. Charles Pond, Charter member and scholarship donor, will give $5,000 to the Ronald W. and Betsy F. McSwain Missions Endowment when 35 gifts are given in support of any CCSA endowment. His gift is in memory of his close friend Ron McSwain and in memory of his wife Juanita Pond who generously supported CCSA.

Alumnus Barry Bradberry, Class of 1973, is sponsoring this challenge. Barry drove a 1965 red Ford Mustang Fastback when he was a student at Chowan and he still owns and drives it today! The car was featured in the movie “Dare to Be.” 25 gifts of $19.65 or more will unlock his donation of $1,000. Donations will be placed in the Alumni Loyalty Fund.

The donor who makes the 175th contribution during Chowan Gives will unlock a $500 gift to the area of their choice from Elaine Myers, Board of Trustee member and a 175th Celebration Committee member.

Vroom Vroom...help CU soar to new heights for our 175th Anniversary. Jena'y Nelson '12, Alumni Council member, will award 7, $25 gas gift cards that are randomly selected if you give during the hours of 4-7 pm on April 5th to the Alumni Loyalty Fund. CU cruising around!

Win a starbucks $10 digital gift card between the hours of 8 am-9 am on April 5th when you donate $25.00+. 10 names will be drawn. This challenge is brought to you by Alumni Council President, Maurice Fluitt.

Squirrel Park is filled with charming, bushy-tailed creatures and we would like you to name them! During the times of 3 pm-5 pm on April 5th any donation of $17.50+ you will get to name your Murf’s friends. All funds will be used to maintain our beautiful campus for humans, dogs, hawks, and squirrels alike. All donors will receive a digital certificate that includes their squirrel's name. Your squirrel’s name can be for a friend, family member, or yourself. We reserve the right to reject any names we deem as inappropriate, so don’t go nuts.

Help CU Football kick off their debut in the Gulf South Conference. With our move to this conference comes added travel expenses. With your help, we can provide the best travel and experience for our football student athletes. Donations of $1,000+ will receive a commemorative mini Hawks Football helmet.

Calling on all football alumni, friends and fans to give CU football’s locker room a fresh look. The program is in need of 130 new lockers. An anonymous donor will match each gift of $1,000 for the first 20 lockers. With your $1,000 contribution, you will be given the opportunity to name a locker in memory or in honor of someone.

Board Chairman, Kemper Baker, is matching, dollar for dollar, each gift up to $250. Kember and his wife, Bev, will match all gifts on April 5th from 3 on until the $10,000 match is gone.

Calling all alumni and friends of the Science Department to help upgrade our science labs on campus. We encourage those who give to make gifts in honor of current or former professors of sciences. With 35 gifts to this challenge, a $63,000 contribution from Warren Chancey, Dr. Harold Babb, Betty Meiggs, Mick Outten and Jamie Johnson will be made to the Science Department.

The Sheryl Brown Whitley Scholarship in Business was established in Sheryl’s memory by her parents. Wayne and Shirley Brown challenge you to support the scholarship program by making a gift in memory or honor of someone important to you. When 50 gifts are given to support any scholarship endowment, their gift of $20,000 will be unlocked and fully realized.

Linda Weaver is challenging the Chowan Family to help us celebrate this monumental milestone of 175 years. When 30 gifts are made of $175+, Linda’s generous contribution of $5,000 will be unlocked to the Chowan Fund. All gifts of $175+ will also receive a limited edition commemorative etched glass.

Capt. Mick Outten, Class of 71, has issued a challenge by encouraging support of the Veterans Scholarship. When 25 veterans have been honored with gifts to the Veterans Scholarship during Chowan Gives, it will unlock a gift of $10,000. You are able to honor a veteran or an active member of the armed services while making your gift. The scholarship supports veterans pursuing a Chowan degree.

This challenge encourages donors to make their first gift to Chowan. At the end of Chowan Gives, a name from the first time donors list will be drawn and that person will select an area of his/her choice for the $1,000 bonus. Lynette Bunch, Board of Trustee member, encourages you to make your first gift to Chowan!

Students who donate $17.50 or more during Chowan Gives will be eligible for a random drawing for gift cards to area restaurants, etc. This challenge is brought to you by the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce!

Win a Chick-Fil-A $15 digital gift card between 12 pm-1 pm on April 6th when you donate $25.00+. 10 names will be drawn. This Lunch Power Hour is brought to you by Alumni Council Member Lynn Gruber Powell ‘76.

Dr. Pam Woodard is out on campus from 10 am-12 pm on April 5th to give students rides testing their Chowan knowledge. Get the question right and earn points for your favorite student organization. The student organization with the most points at the end of the 2 hours will unlock a $500 donation to their fund given by Dr. Pam Woodard.

Show CU your best moves! On TikTok from 6-9 pm on April 5th, post your favorite TikTok dance with the hashtag #ChowanGivesSocialMediaChallenge. The winning post will be featured on Chowan University Socials!

Chowan’s Blue Cord will be presented to graduating students who make a gift of $20.23 during Chowan Gives. The Blue Cord will be worn during Chowan’s commencement ceremony, symbolizing the student philanthropic pride and the reciprocal commitment between Chowan and its alumni. Blue Cords will be distributed at the Senior Banquet ceremony.