Terry Thomas Foundation Donates to the College of Coastal Georgia

The Terry Thomas Foundation continued their longtime support of the College of Coastal Georgia by donating $100,000 to create a gathering area for students in the soon-to-be renovated Andrews Center building on the Brunswick campus. The contribution will provide a space for students to work, socialize, and collaborate.

The Foundation was established in 2004 by Julia Terrill “Terry” Thomas, a Sea Island resident and community philanthropist. Thomas was an active volunteer and community advocate for many local organizations and served as a trustee on the College’s Foundation Board from 1978 to 2011. Thomas recognized the role of the College as a center for community activity and personally began supporting the College in the 1970’s.
 
In 1992, the Terrill Thomas Auditorium was dedicated in her honor and recognition of her support to the College. Her legacy has continued through generous gifts from the Foundation to fund multiple scholarships, including women’s golf and women’s tennis.
 
Her Foundation’s most recent gift to the College will once again enhance a central gathering space on campus. The Andrews Center serves as the centralized location on campus for student success, as it houses critical services such as registration, financial aid, and technology services. The building is slated to undergo extensive renovations. This contribution will allow for the reconfiguration of an existing space into a multi-purpose area for educational and student development activities.
 
Dewey Benefield, a Terry Thomas Foundation trustee, shared how he attended the ribbon cutting of the Andrews Center in the 70s. It’s fitting that through the Terry Thomas Foundation, he will experience the ribbon cutting of the renovated Andrews Center to show his support for and how it will benefit students.
 
“When I saw the wonderful gathering area in the library with white boards and creative study areas, I knew it would be a wonderful asset in the Andrews Center,” said Susan Goodhue, executive director of the Terry Thomas Foundation. “Terry would be impressed that the College has grown to a four-year opportunity for students in the college system and would appreciate the impressive, new additions of buildings on campus. She was a firm believer that a good education was fundamental for a successful future.”
 
President Dr. Michelle R. Johnston expressed the College’s deep appreciation for the gift.
 
“Terry Thomas was such a pillar in the community and truly supported the vision of the College. Her previous gift towards the Conference Center helped change the landscape of campus and what we can offer to the community for events and student instruction,” Johnston said. “Now, through this gift from the Terry Thomas Foundation, students will have a special place to gather and study. Terry Thomas continues to enrich the lives of so many people through her legacy of generosity and kindness.”
 
Designs for the renovations on the Andrews Center are currently underway.