An agreement between the ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation and Vidant Health Foundation has been signed and executed, creating the ECU Health Foundation. The two entities will align to operate as one philanthropic arm supporting ECU Health and ECU’s health sciences. The alignment follows the joint operating agreement between East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and then-Vidant Health that has been in place for more than a year, enabling the organizations to create ECU Health and work together to improve health care delivery to the 1.4 million residents of eastern North Carolina.
Under the agreement, the two foundations will remain separate legal entities, but will integrate under a new, shared brand known as ECU Health Foundation. Rebranding is expected to take several months to complete. The Foundation is committed to a seamless transition for donors, and they can expect to receive communications in the coming weeks.
As part of the agreement, Scott Senatore will become Chief Philanthropy Officer for the ECU Health Foundation, overseeing the work of both entities. He will also serve as president of the ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation and continue in his role as president of the Vidant Health Foundation where he has served since 2018. Prior to his work with the foundation, Senatore was the president of the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce.
“This agreement marks an important and exciting chapter for health care and health sciences philanthropy in eastern North Carolina,” said Senatore. “I’m grateful for our board chairs, Spence Cosby and Jordy Whichard, and our respective boards for their leadership throughout this process. This partnership will help increase fundraising for both clinical and academic needs on our campuses.”
“During the last year, we have seen great efforts to partner and collaborate between our two organizations,” said ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers. “When this happens, the people of eastern North Carolina benefit tremendously. Just as with our clinical integration, our philanthropic alignment is another important step toward advancing our shared mission and driving value for this vital partnership.”
The ECU Health Foundation was created to align the fundraising and stewardship operations of the ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation and the Vidant Health Foundation in order to boost philanthropic support for ECU Health, the ECU Schools and Colleges of the health sciences, and Laupus Library.
“Coordinating our philanthropic initiatives, as outlined in the original joint operating agreement, continues to build upon the rich history of the two organizations, preserving the legacy and vision we have shared for nearly 50 years, and advancing the tremendous progress made with the creation of ECU Health,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean, Brody School of Medicine.
About the ECU Health Foundation
The ECU Health Foundation aligns fundraising and stewardship operations of the Vidant Health Foundation and the ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation to boost philanthropic support for ECU Health, the ECU Schools and Colleges of the health sciences, and Laupus Library. The ECU Health Foundation is committed to effectively and efficiently supporting clinical and academic needs for the health system and health sciences.
About ECU Health
ECU Health is a mission-driven, 1,708-bed academic health care system serving more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is comprised of more than 14,000 team members, nine hospitals and a physician group that encompasses over 1,100 academic and community providers practicing in over 180 primary and specialty clinics located in more than 110 locations. The flagship ECU Health Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, and ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital serve as the primary teaching hospitals for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine share a combined academic mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina through patient care, education and research. For more information, visit ECUHealth.org.
About East Carolina University
East Carolina University offers more than 87 bachelor’s, 68 master’s and 18 doctoral degrees to 28,000 students on its Greenville, North Carolina, campus and through an acclaimed online learning program. The university’s school of medicine consistently ranks No. 1 in North Carolina – and in the top 10% nationally – for graduating physicians who practice in-state, practice primary care and practice in rural and underserved areas. ECU boasts the largest business school enrollment and largest number of new nurses and education professionals produced by a four-year North Carolina university, in addition to the largest studio art program in the state. The university has a globally recognized academic underwater archaeology program and has a supportive relationship with the U.S. military services. Located near Atlantic coast harbors where pirates once roamed, ECU adopted the “Pirates” mascot in 1934 for its athletics program and competes in NCAA Division 1.
