UGA’s Season of Success – On and Off the Field

No doubt, the University of Georgia is enjoying a winning fall semester.

The Bulldogs rolled to a 12-0 start and head to the 2021 College Football Playoffs as the No. 3 seed – opposite Big Ten champ Michigan. The semifinal showdown is set for must-see primetime viewing on New Year’s Eve.

A win sends the Bulldogs to the national title game Jan. 10.

But football isn’t the only reason to celebrate.

Regions Bank’s support of two exciting programs in the Terry College of Business is making life better for university students and people and communities across Georgia.

The support began last fall with a $300,000 gift to the Institute for Leadership Advancement (or ILA). The ILA addresses strategic needs in the state of Georgia through community service initiatives. The Regions Bank endowment funded a fellowship program for service-learning projects across the state.

These fellowships enable student-led projects to benefit local efforts, which have a direct impact on the communities and provide important values-based education and leadership training opportunities for students.

As a national leader in experiential learning, UGA prides itself on offering students innovative ways to engage with and learn in the world. Regions Bank has further empowered our students to put their leadership skills into action and serve their communities.
Benjamin C. Ayers, dean of the Terry College of Business

One team of fellows helped the Moultrie Police Department in Colquitt County develop an action plan to battle the community’s growing mental health crisis. Another group helped develop a plan for McDuffie County, a rural community in eastern Georgia, to recycle 1,000 tons of green waste generated each year. Other projects include working with agencies to provide resources for under-resourced families, supporting individuals with disabilities, and assisting a local hospital with medical data needs, among others.

“We’ve been so pleased to see what our students have been able to do thanks to the Regions Bank Service-Learning Projects Fund,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, dean of the Terry College of Business. “As a national leader in experiential learning, UGA prides itself on offering students innovative ways to engage with and learn in the world. Regions Bank has further empowered our students to put their leadership skills into action and serve their communities.”

Additionally, Regions Bank made a $200,000 commitment to small businesses across Georgia with a gift to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC is part of UGA’s Public Service and Outreach division and provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed, with 18 locations statewide.

Due to in-person restrictions during the pandemic, the SBDC and Regions Bank partnered and pivoted to offer free, virtual learning opportunities for small-business owners centered around Starting a Business and Writing a Dynamic Business Plan, as well as 16 Regions Bank Entrepreneurship Academy courses.

The SBDC gift was particularly significant, according to Bill Linginfelter, Atlanta market executive and Commercial Banking executive at Regions Bank, and a University of Georgia alumnus.

“Education and economic development are key priorities for Regions Bank’s community engagement, and small businesses are the backbone of our local economies,” Linginfelter said. “This program was especially critical during the pandemic, when businesses were hit hard. I’m pleased the bank could assist these entrepreneurs and small companies and help them navigate this challenging time.”

Regions President and CEO John Turner, also a University of Georgia graduate, was happy about the investment as well.

“I appreciate the educational and economic impact of the Terry School of Business,” Turner said. “This is an important partnership for Regions Bank that will benefit UGA students and communities across the state of Georgia.”

“And—Go Dawgs!” Turner added.