On Veterans Day, The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine provided 30 veterans with free oral health care through the Smiles for Veterans program. This is the second year the event has been held at Ross Hall, with students, residents, faculty and staff providing more than $13,000 in oral health care including exams, extractions, cleanings, oral surgeries, root canals and even a complete crown.
The Smiles for Veterans program is donor-funded and allows the dental school to provide free oral health care to veterans across North Carolina.There are events held throughout the year at all eight of the school’s community service learning centers (CSLC). Since the initiative began in 2018, it has provided close to a quarter million dollars worth of care for more than 500 veterans. The program began in partnership with the Veteran Smiles Foundation and local veterans’ organizations and has expanded to be sponsored by other supporters and groups over the years.
In September 2025, ECU Health and East Carolina University marked 40 years of cardiovascular care in eastern North Carolina. The East Carolina Heart Institute has been a cornerstone of heart and vascular care, transforming cardiovascular outcomes across the region by highlighting the importance of education, research, treatment and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
What started as a comprehensive cardiovascular program at Brody School of Medicine in 1984 has grown into one of the nation’s premier cardiovascular institutes, and philanthropy plays a key role in its growth and success.
Thanks to the collaborative approach between the university and the health system, ECHI connects generous supporters to a mission that saves lives every day. Donor support has fueled innovation, expanded access to advanced technologies and strengthened education, enabling the Heart Institute to emerge as a national leader and a contemporary university-based model of excellence. Today, ECHI remains a leader in groundbreaking initiatives and innovative treatments and technology. With support from donors and the community, the program will continue to excel and provide world-class heart care close to home.
Click here for a special look at the history of ECHI.
The 40th annual Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Celebration Broadcast raised an incredible $1,278,873 to support pediatric care at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, bringing the total raised over four decades to $35.6 million.
Produced by longtime CMN partner WITN, this year’s broadcast celebrated 40 years of community generosity and the thousands of children whose lives have been touched by Maynard Children’s Hospital. Viewers were inspired by heartfelt stories of healing and hope, and a special $100,000 matching gift doubled the impact for kids across eastern North Carolina.
Among the many touching moments was recognition of four dedicated volunteers: Fred Anderson, Debbie Austin, Vivian Bazemore and Diane Oakley, who have given their time to every telethon since the very first in 1986!
Thanks to the ongoing support of donors, volunteers and partners, children from across our region continue to receive the highest quality care, close to home.
“This year’s Celebration Broadcast was incredibly special, marking 40 years of support for Children’s Miracle Network and bringing together those who have made a difference,” said Elise Ironmonger, Director of Programs at the ECU Health Foundation. “It was amazing to reflect on this journey and connect with our dedicated supporters. We also honored the generous businesses, community groups and individuals whose commitment will continue to save lives and bring hope to the children at Maynard Children’s Hospital.”
To commemorate 40 years of making miracles happen in eastern North Carolina, the event included many special acknowledgements to celebrate the milestone. Former WITN personalities throughout the years provided messages of encouragement and support while past miracle children provided updates on their journeys and how their lives were directly impacted by the generous donations from the telethon. Four loyal volunteers joined the celebration for their 40th time, attending all 40 telethons throughout the years: Fred Anderson, Debbie Austin, Vivian Bazemore and Diane Oakley. Another very special moment included an interview with Lillian Jones, who honored her late husband, Dick Jones, WITN personality and talent who hosted the very first telethon in 1986.
Funds raised during the Celebration Broadcast ensure that children from across the region have access to the highest quality care, advanced medical equipment and life-saving programs. Each dollar raised stays local to support pediatric services at Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Major sponsors once again demonstrated their generosity, with the following top contributors each giving at least $100,000:
- Speedway, part of 7-11, Inc: $209,647
- Jersey Mike’s Subs: $188,375
- Walmart and Sam’s Club: $153,672
- Music for Miracles Radiothon: $113,734
- Log A Load for Kids: $100,000
The following sponsors each made a significant impact with donations totaling over $25,000: Ace Hardware ($37,383), Panda Express ($32,035), Dance Arts Theatre ($28,876) and Extra Life ($26,345).
Coming through in a big way, the following organizations donated between $5,000-$20,000: Central Heating and Air Conditioning, Barbour Hendrick Honda of Greenville, Electric Cooperative of ENC, Dairy Queen, Ollies, Phi Mu, Pepsi/Minges Bottling Group, American Builders, Publix and Eastern Radiologists.
Finally, a big thanks to these generous donors who contributed between $1,000-$5,000: Miller & Friends Lemonade Stand, Grady White Boats, RE/MAX, Whistle Express Car Wash, Care-O-World, Baynor Inc, Ajay Ajmera, Arun Ajmera, Ricci Law Firm, Builder’s Discount Center, Harris, Creech, Ward & Blackerby PA, MSL Healthcare Partners, Stallings Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning, POPS Mart Fuels and Aldridge & Southerland.
The local CMN Hospitals fundraising program is staffed and supported by the ECU Health Foundation, the non-profit charitable corporation that serves as the custodian for all financial gifts and bequests to ECU Health. The ECU Health Foundation oversees allocation of all donated funds.
On March 10th, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital celebrated the opening of the Panda Cares® Center of Hope, made possible by the associates and guests of Panda Express®, who foster the spirit of giving to help change kids’ health to change the future.
The Center of Hope inspires hope and promotes healing by providing specially curated programs that address each child’s entire well-being, including their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. This space is designed to give children the courage and strength to thrive.
Panda Express® guests and their associates in eastern North Carolina have raised over $345,000 for Maynard Children’s Hospital since 2016.
The ECU School of Dental Medicine hosted the ‘Smiles for Veterans’ event on Saturday to provide free dental care for veterans. Army veteran Mitchel Hudson says, “It means a lot to have this. A lot of people don’t have these services and I’m glad veterans do because they deserve it.” Dental students and faculty had the opportunity to work directly with patients to provide services.
Aleacia Lee graduated ECU in May 2024 and was able to work with the veterans as an AEGD Resident. “Usually with these events, I was doing assisting or something like that. But now actually doing the care for the veteran, it’s really special. I got a big smile after my patient left today,” Lee says.
Founder and Chairman of Smiles for Veterans David McCracken says the group relies on donations and grants to be able to give back to veterans in need. “The amount of money we get, and I think this is the thing I’m most pleased with, is every single dollar, 100%, goes to some veteran’s mouth,” McCracken says.
As a veteran himself, Dean of ECU School of Dental Medicine Greg Chadwick says its vital to provide dental services to veterans that need it. He says, “We enjoy having this school because of the people that have served in the armed services in years past and given us the opportunities to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy.” Chadwick says this event was the first in Pitt County but certainly won’t be the last.
ECU says close to 30 veterans were helped during the event, and more than 400 total have been cared for through the program since 2018, receiving more $220,000 dollars worth of care.
ECU Health and Acadia Healthcare gathered on Tuesday to celebrate a milestone in the construction of the behavioral health hospital in Greenville. Sarah Gray Barr has more on this.
ECU Health is working to make sure all of Eastern North Carolina is healthy in not only body but also mind.
It hosted its 12th annual Mental Health Expo on Tuesday. Hundreds of people stopped by to get resources and learn from health professionals. There were 50 local organizations to show the importance of mental health.
“Mental health is health, right? And mental health has a tendency to be something a lot of times we don’t want to talk about if it’s not so good. And so just letting people know that it’s okay to. This is kind of. Lots of people have mental health issues. And to be able to connect the dots, you know, like, well, okay, if I need a resource, this is where I can go,” said Glenn Simpson, ECU Health System service line administrator for behavioral health.
ECU Health added that if you or a loved one struggles with mental health issues, you can always call or text the number 988 to be connected with professionals.
The ECU Brody School of Medicine held its 10th annual Medical Education Day. The event celebrates innovation in the medical field and offers an opportunity for leaders, educators, and students to promote changes in the industry.
The event was all about the discoveries being made in the medical field. It showed the growth of the medical community here in Eastern North Carolina with presentations and posters that allowed presenters to showcase their research.
Before the presentations started, ECU alumni Doctor Andrew Southerland gave a keynote speech about the impact of AI and Chat GPT in the medical field. After his speech, members of the event interacted with presenters about their projects, which were later judged in front of the crowd.
“Fills me with pride to see what our students are capable of doing. From start to finish the projects that then get adopted and adapted here and become a part of what is the Brody fabric,” said Dr. Jill Sutton, Obstetrics and Gynecology associate professor.
“This is really just an opportunity to share ideas and make sure we’re all together focused on how we can take the next step in medical education and I think that’s really what today all about and why I’m excited to be here,” said Brody School of Medicine student Ryan Dickerson.
Many of the topics mentioned at the event promoted education enhancement in certain fields including anatomy, and radiology, as well as tools that would help promote these subject matters.
Presenters in Thursday’s event featured not just students. Faculty and staff, as well as resident physicians, collaborated and looked forward to highlighting the curriculum and technologies used at the Brody School of Medicine in the future.
Miracle Children and their stories of remarkable courage during life-threatening illnesses and injuries helped make the 37th annual Celebration Broadcast a tremendous success.
For the second year in a row, the telethon was marked by a very special announcement. A friend of James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center offered to match, dollar for dollar every donation up to $100,000. This family, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a passion for children in eastern North Carolina and wants to ensure every child has the best chance possible to get better. They are so very grateful for all of the hard work, dedication and compassion that the team provides at Maynard Children’s Hospital. They also recognize this past year has been incredibly difficult for everyone and hoped to provide an extra incentive for people to open their hearts and donate.
Thanks to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ longtime television partner, WITN, which produces the fundraiser, this year’s Miracle Children were able to share their heartwarming stories of complex illnesses and traumatic injuries and the quality medical care they received from Maynard Children’s Hospital.
The theme of this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign has been “Change Kids’ Health, Change the Future” which shows how important donations are in helping shape a healthier tomorrow for patients served at Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Major contributors to the yearly event, held June 4-5 to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, featured contributions from long-time supporters from across eastern North Carolina including Speedway, Log a Load for Kids, and Walmart/Sam’s Clubs.
“Caring individuals, community groups, businesses and others show how much they care about children by providing generous contributions to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In eastern North Carolina, this generosity enables the Maynard Children’s Hospital, located in Greenville and serving 29 counties, to see beyond obvious treatment and save more lives,” said Spence Cosby, chair, ECU Health Foundation Board of Trustees. “The care and high-quality treatment received here will continue into the future through this year’s amazing donors.”
The Celebration Broadcast featured guests and sponsors who have contributed during the past year, as well as callers who pledged their support.
Earlier this year, the Music for Miracles Radiothon on Inner Banks Media Stations raised $109,921 during the 25th year of their special event, bringing their total raised to more than $3.7 million. The Inner Banks Media radio stations include: 107.9 WNCT; Talk 96.3 and 103.7; Groovin’ Oldies 94.1; and 94.3 The Game.
The largest donor to this year’s campaign came from a long-time corporate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Speedway, which raised $292,011 in their seventh year of partnership with Maynard Children’s Hospital.
The largest fundraising event for our local Children’s Miracle Network program was hosted by long time CMN supporters, Log a Load for Kids. On May 6-7, Log a Load for Kids held their 25th annual sporting clays shoot and raised $200,000. These funds came from sponsorships, including title sponsors, Colony Tire, Southern Pines Timber and Pinnacle Trailer Sales, and had nearly 600 participants.
Other major donors and their gifts included Walmart/Sam’s Clubs with $122,107; Panda Express with $65,948; the Parker Family/Bryson’s Birdies for Kids with $52,941; Dance Arts Theater with $31,294; and Publix with $31,124.
Several other initiatives proved successful for this year’s campaign, including Equipment Plus/East Carolina Tractor and Fleet with $17,780 and Extra Life with $13,293.
Other campaign contributors were RE/MAX with $12,675; Ace Hardware with $11,556; 264 Shoes and Apparel with $10,107; Barbour Hendrick Honda Greenville and The Electric Cooperatives of Eastern NC both with $10,000; Ollie’s with $7,316; Phi Mu Chapter of ECU with $3,737; and Pepsi/Minges Bottling Group; Eastern Radiologists, Inc.; and Harris, Creech, Ward and Blackerby, P.A. each contributed $5,000.
Additional gifts were from, Miller and Friends Lemonade Stand with $4,156; American Builders with $3,200; Grady White Boats with $2,500; Central Heating and Air Conditioning with $2,000; Care-O-World Enrichment Learning Center with $1,802; brothers, Arun and Ajay Ajmera each with $1,100. Children’s Healthcare Services, PA; MSL Health Care Partners, Inc ; Team Lighting; Ricci Law Firm; Stallings Plumbing, Heating and AC and Coldwell Bankers Coastal Rivers Realty each gave $1,000.
The local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising program is staffed and supported by the ECU Health Foundation, the non-profit charitable corporation that serves as the custodian for all financial gifts and bequests to ECU Health. The ECU Health Foundation oversees allocation of all donated funds.
Media contact: Beth Anne Atkins, director, communications and donor relations, ECU Health Foundation, 252-847-7695 or [email protected]
Listeners from all over the east phoned in their support for children and raised $107,385 during the 25th annual “Music for Miracles” radiothon on 107.9 WNCT.
These generous donations bring the all-time giving for the event to more than $3.6 million. One hundred percent of the funds raised through Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospital events such as this, directly support programs and services at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at Vidant Medical Center.
This year’s radiothon included all of the Inner Banks Media radio stations. In addition to 107.9, these include: Talk 96.3 and 103.7; Groovin’ Oldies 94.1; and 94.3 The Game.
“We are thrilled to have once again been a partner with CMN and ECU Medical Center. Doing two days of broadcasts gave us an opportunity to interact with the doctors, staff, and most importantly the kids who are served there,” said Henry Hinton, president, Inner Banks Media. “It is one of the highlights of our year in terms of our public service efforts. As is often the case when you do something like this, we were the ones who were blessed to have been part of it.”
“The loyal listeners show year after year that no matter what is happening in the world around us they are truly dedicated to making the lives of sick and injured children better. A special thank you to the children and their families who shared their inspirational stories about the care they received at Maynard Children’s Hospital,” said Rhonda James, director of development, Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Children’s Miracle Network is a fundraising program of the ECU Health Foundation. Maynard Children’s Hospital in Greenville serves children and their families living throughout a 29-county region in eastern North Carolina.
Media contact: Rhonda James, director of development, Maynard Children’s Hospital, 252-847-1071 or
Media contact: Beth Anne Atkins, director, communications and donor relations, ECU Health Foundation, 252-847-7695 or [email protected]