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Kauffman's endow four scholarships
January 13, 2003
CARROLLTON, GA - After meeting Phillip Kauffman, one thing is for certain: you know where he stands. The no-nonsense 2003 chairman of the West Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees stands squarely behind the University of West Georgia.
Kauffman, 56, plans to make fund raising for the West Georgia Foundation his top priority, and he is already leading by example. Giving back to the programs that benefited their children, Kauffman and his wife, Barbara, recently made a gift of $200,000 to endow four Presidential Scholarships at UWG.
Sons
Ryan, a 2000 UWG graduate, and Jason, who will graduate in the spring,
both earned Presidential Scholarships at West Georgia. Ryan is now attending
medical school at Vanderbilt University. The Kauffmans’ daughter,
Christine, also graduated from the University in 1995, and their eldest
son, Scott, completed graduate work there. Scott currently serves on the
UWG Alumni Association Board of Directors.
“You can see we’ve invested a lot in West Georgia, but I can’t think of a better investment,” said Kauffman regarding his children’s attendance there. “Academically, I will put this school up against any.”
Kauffman has set some lofty goals for his year as chairman of the Board of Trustees.
“My goal is to raise $1 million in major gifts from the Board of Trustees in 2003,” he explained. “We need to grow the endowment. I believe in this University and want to invest in our community’s best asset.”
In addition to boosting major gifts, Kauffman believes the Foundation can surpass the success of its historic 2002 fundraising year. He would like to break the $2.5 million record, established last year under Chairman Bill Webb.
“Records are made to be broken,” he said. “We need to expect 2003 to be the best year ever.”
Kauffman has been a community leader ever since he moved to Carrollton from Ohio in 1975. Currently the chairman and CEO of Greyfield Resources, a tax deed and property investment company; CEO of Kauphi Properties; and chairman of the board of United Community Bank in Carrollton, he has owned and operated several successful businesses. His success, he says, has been built upon finding niches and taking advantage of opportunities.
Like his businesses, West Georgia has also prospered by finding its niche, says Kauffman, who believes that niche is well stated by the University’s motto, “Educational Excellence in a Personal Environment.”
“There really is a personal environment,” he emphasized. “My kids received personal attention and personal recognition for their work. The faculty, staff and administration make each student feel like a big fish in a big pond.”
A close look inside Kauffman’s office reveals where his heart lies. In addition to photos of his wife and children, the space displays many West Georgia mementos, as well as photos and drawings of past, present and future business projects. Several community service awards and accolades hanging on the walls attest to his affection for Carrollton.
One such honor is the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce 1986 Citizen of the Year Award, a recognition that Kauffman shrugs off. “I’m just glad that I can help in some small way,” he said. “This community means a whole lot to my family and me.”
He continued, “I want to help make West Georgia one of the region’s biggest attractions. As the University goes, so goes this community.”
Where West Georgia goes in 2003 will be strongly influenced by Kauffman’s leadership. If his previous accomplishments are an indication of the year in store, both the University and the community are sure to make great strides toward a more successful future.
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