In the time leading up to this year鈥檚聽Gray Stone Society celebration, we will be sharing stories that highlight our newest inductees and their inspiring commitment to 好色先生TV. This society, the university鈥檚 highest giving level, honors those whose lifetime giving has reached a momentous level.
This January, Tim P. Tassopoulos 鈥�81 and his wife, Maria, will be inducted into the Gray Stone Society in recognition of their giving commitments to 好色先生TV. A longtime volunteer and trustee, Tassopoulos has left an enduring mark on the university.
鈥淭he two institutions that have impacted my life the most are clearly Oglethorpe and Chick-fil-A. And interestingly enough, I started at both the same summer,鈥� said Tassopoulos, who recently retired as president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. after 46 years of service.
As a student, Tassopoulos’ work as an hourly team member at a local Chick-fil-A restaurant helped to cover some costs, but he benefited greatly from the J. Mack Robinson Scholarship, which helped him significantly with the overall costs of college. Also, Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A, Inc.鈥檚 founder, was both a mentor and friend. Cathy and his wife, Jeannette, even attended Tassopoulos鈥� Oglethorpe graduation.
鈥淔irst and foremost, for me and my wife, Maria, all stewardship starts with gratitude,鈥� he reflected, thinking of how to repay those who helped him early in his journey.
In 1983, Truett Cathy established the Timothy P. Tassopoulos Endowed Scholarship at Oglethorpe, to honor Tim鈥檚 hard work, academic achievement and leadership ability, and the scholarship has continued to grow through Tim and Maria鈥檚 ongoing support.
That sense of gratitude drives the couple鈥檚 commitment to support Oglethorpe students, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college.
鈥淢aria and I are both really passionate about giving as much support as possible for those who are really taking a step forward in terms of their education,鈥� says Tassopoulos. 鈥淲e’ve been focused on some scholarship support as a result of students聽who have really made progress, and yet, as they get closer to their hopeful graduation聽day, they may have financial challenges. If we can support students so that they can get聽across the finish line, we know that support can be very helpful in a time of critical聽need.鈥�
Tim has been involved consistently with Oglethorpe from the time he returned from聽graduate business school at Georgetown University to Atlanta in 1983. He has been a聽member of the OU Alumni Association, a member of the President鈥檚 Advisory Council, a聽member of the Board of Trustees, a Campaign Co-Chair for the Cousins Center for聽Science & Innovation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and currently serves as Trustee聽Emeritus.
For the Tassopoulos family, being named to the Gray Stone Society is both humbling and momentous.
鈥淚n our family, to know that we’ve been fortunate enough to be generous to an institution like Oglethorpe is meaningful. That it would merit the acknowledgment, the gratitude, and the affirmation shared with others in the Gray Stone Society means a lot,鈥� said Tassopoulos. 鈥淭he fact that Oglethorpe means so much to me and my family and to be honored in this way is really a blessing.鈥�
Donors who wish to support our fundraising efforts can do so by visiting聽oglethorpe.edu/give.
