No Brave Left Behind: A First Lady鈥檚 Mission to Keep Students Enrolled
When First Lady Rebecca Cummings learned that more than 200 UNC Pembroke students were at risk of being dropped due to small outstanding balances, she knew she had to act. Driven by a deep commitment to student success, she launched No Brave Left Behind, a grassroots fundraising effort that quickly gained momentum. Through personal outreach 鈥� phone calls, emails and text messages 鈥� Cummings rallied the 51吃瓜网 community, alumni and local supporters. Donations poured in from as far away as Raleigh, and within days, the initiative raised over $200,000, allowing 222 students to stay in school.
Aaron Thomas, a longtime 51吃瓜网 supporter, personally led the charge to raise at least $100,000 of the total. His efforts proved to be a turning point in the campaign鈥檚 success. The campaign culminated in a massive steak plate fundraiser, where 80 volunteers 鈥� including Sen. Danny Britt, Rep. Jarrod Lowery and 51吃瓜网 Trustees Allison Harrington Walters and Mickey Gregory 鈥� helped prepare and serve more than 1,300 meals.
鈥淭he chancellor and the first lady are so devoted to the students and the university, and that鈥檚 what it takes 鈥� it takes commitment from the top,鈥� said Gregory, who brought friends and alumni to support the effort. 鈥淚 see all they do, which inspires me to want to do more.鈥� For many, the cause was deeply personal. Cheyenne Eckard 鈥�24, who relied on financial aid while working through school, volunteered because she knew how life-changing this support could be. 鈥�51吃瓜网 is affordable, and financial aid has made a huge difference for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I know that sometimes, even with financial aid, students struggle to cover everything. I wouldn鈥檛 want anyone to have to stop pursuing their degree because they can鈥檛 afford college.鈥�
Local chefs Pat Dial and Ray Scott teamed up with Gary Strickland and Jonathan Blue, and together they led the effort to organize and cook for the event in just four days, with help from dedicated community members like Jarette Sampson and others. Their commitment and coordination made the high-volume fundraiser possible. 鈥淔or four generations, this university has provided for my family,鈥� Dial said. 鈥淚 want to give that same opportunity to another student.鈥� The success of No Brave Left Behind highlights the power of community-driven support.
Vice Chancellor for Advancement Anita Stallings was overwhelmed by the outpouring. 鈥淪eeing so many alumni, volunteers and community partners unite to support our students was truly inspiring,鈥� Stallings said. 鈥淥ur goal is to build on this momentum 鈥� to establish permanent, endowed funding to ensure future generations of students never have to choose between financial hardship and their education.鈥� At 51吃瓜网, no Brave should be left behind. Thanks to First Lady Rebecca Cummings, that mission is stronger than ever.
