Georgia Southern Celebrates Amazing Donors at the 2023 Gratitude Gala
Every year, Georgia Southern University hosts a spectacular black-tie event to honor its exceptional donors. The latest Gratitude Gala took place at JW Marriott Plant Riverside in Savannah. The elegant evening of celebration recognized key people who have gone above and beyond to support the University’s mission and initiatives. Trip Addison, vice president for University Advancement, didn’t hold back in acknowledging the incredible folks in the room. “The people in this room represent Georgia Southern’s most loyal alumni, friends, faculty, staff, corporations and foundations, who’ve each given $25,000 or more to the University, equipping our mission of helping students reach their academic and career goals,” Addison told the crowd. “Because of supporters like you, more than $3 million in scholarships were awarded this year.” Here’s a look at the stars of the evening:
2023 PRESIDENT’S VISIONARY HONOREE: DON AND CINDY WATERS
This dynamic duo met back in their Armstrong State University days. Don, a 1975 graduate in accounting, attended law school and later became the CEO of Brasseler USA. He retired in 2016. Cindy, a 1976 graduate in management and finance, had a career in logistics. In 2013, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Don to serve on the Georgia Board of Regents, where he advocated on behalf of Armstrong State and Georgia Southern. The couple’s vision for advancing health education led them to generously fund the University’s Waters College of Health Professions, the largest college at Georgia Southern. Through their naming of the Waters College, endowments were established which allow the institution to create scholarship opportunities for students and professional development opportunities for faculty.
The Waters College of Health Professions allows students to pursue majors in two departments and the School of Nursing. Home to two doctoral programs, one in physical therapy and one in nursing, students hone their skills in state-of-the-art academic settings. Don’s leadership at the state level helped secure the funding for the Health Professions Academic Building on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah. With the joint vision of Don and Cindy, the University is changing the face of health care in the South as the largest provider of health professionals in the state.
For all their unwavering support and transformational giving, it’s no wonder Georgia Southern honored the Waters with the President’s Visionary Award.
2023 PRESIDENT’S INNOVATOR AWARD: DAVID AND FAYEBETH BALL
David, a former restaurateur, and his brothers, Warren and Lamar, are the visionaries behind the University’s Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center. It was created in 1997 through their vision and generous gifts. The site is home to Georgia Southern’s feathered friends, including the University’s live bald eagle mascot, Freedom. It’s also a topnotch environmental education facility in Georgia. Since its opening, David and his wife, Fayebeth, have put their money where their heart is, giving significantly to the Center in all of its endeavors, and have worked to create funding opportunities for their wide network of friends and acquaintances.
The Balls have further dedicated themselves to projects like Georgia Southern’s new Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center. For their dedication to the University, Georgia Southern gave them the President’s Innovator Award for keeping their True Blue spirit.
2023 PRESIDENT’S AMBASSADOR AWARD: JULIAN AND FRANCES DEAL
The Deals are the real deal when it comes to love for the University, its athletes and watching students succeed. They have been loyal supporters and ambassadors of Georgia Southern for 40 years. Julian is a 1960 graduate in business education, and Frances is a 1967 graduate in business. Julian became a member of the Georgia Southern University Foundation in the 1970s and was named chair in 1985.
Over the years, Frances and Julian have generously supported a number of important projects such as the Parker College of Business, School of Accountancy and the Erk Russell Fund. Most recently, these loyal Eagles pledged to support the Anthony P. Tippins Family Training Facility with a gift of $50,000. Their love for the University is truly commendable and Georgia Southern honored the Deals with the President’s Ambassador Award.
2023 LEGACY SOCIETY AWARD: BRIAN AND BILLIE SNELL, M.D.
Brian and Billie met at Georgia Southern in the late 1970s. Brian graduated in 1978 with an accounting degree and Billie earned a degree in biology in 1979. They moved to Augusta for Brian’s MBA and Billie’s enrollment at the Medical College of Georgia. Their careers took them to Gadsden, Alabama, where Billie joined the Gadsden Pediatric Clinic and Brian’s career in pharmaceuticals flourished. Yet, they remained true to Georgia Southern University, supporting many departments on campus.
Recently, they announced a legacy gift of $750,000 to benefit the Department of Biology and its students. Georgia Southern honored the Snells with the 2023 Legacy Award for their years of giving and generosity.
In a nutshell, the 2023 Gratitude Gala was a night to remember. It’s not just an event; it’s a tribute to the incredible community supporting Georgia Southern’s mission and helping students achieve their dreams. Here’s to the donors – the real MVPs!
