Vera Jackson Scholarship Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Georgia Community Foundation
Vera Jackson, a woman born in 1906 in Lumpkin County, Georgia, was recognized as "Georgia's First Lady of Philanthropy" by Points North Magazine in 2007. As the second oldest of 12 children, she was raised by impoverished tenant farmers who relocated to Barrow County in 1917. After completing high school, Vera Jackson relocated to Atlanta to work at Sears, Roebuck and Co., sending money back home to assist her family. She furthered her education by obtaining an undergraduate degree from Georgia State College for Women (now known as Georgia College & State University), a law degree from Atlanta Law School, and a Master’s degree in Economics from Emory University. She dedicated her life to teaching in Atlanta Public Schools. Upon retirement, she spent her time traveling and managing her retirement investments. In 1997, she founded the Vera Jackson Scholarship Program. This was after her passing in 1996, where she bequeathed $1.2 million to the Georgia Community Foundation, Inc. The funds were intended to provide scholarships for room and board to college-bound high school graduates from Fannin, Union, Towns, and Lumpkin counties. These students, despite being recipients of the HOPE Scholarship, would otherwise be unable to afford college. Since the inception of the Vera Jackson Scholarships in 1997, the program has awarded scholarships to 130 students, each worth approximately $3,200. Many of these scholars have returned to the north Georgia area after completing their college education. The Vera Jackson Alumni Education Fund has also provided financial aid to several former scholarship recipients, enabling them to pursue graduate degrees. In addition, some of the past recipients of the Vera Jackson Scholarship have joined a mentoring program initiated by the Georgia Community Foundation. This program aims to provide guidance and support to current scholarship recipients. The Vera Jackson Alumni Society also exists, facilitating occasional gatherings among former scholarship recipients and their families.
Go to Scholarship Application