The trustees of the Macon-based Phil J. and Alice S. Sheridan Foundation are committing $450,000 over three years to help Middle Georgia State University (MGA) students with emergency funding needs that could disrupt their ability to complete their degrees. 

Chris Sheridan, president of the Sheridan Foundation, and the Middle Georgia State University Foundation, a philanthropic entity that raises and manages donations to support Middle Georgia State University's mission and goals, announced the gift on August 8. 

“One of MGA’s most important objectives intersects with the mission of the Sheridan Foundation, which is to provide opportunities to people with significant financial challenges,” said Nancy White, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the MGA Foundation. “Research continuously shows that access to higher education is a pathway to increased earnings, job security, better health and wellness, and greater levels of community engagement. This significant and very generous gift from the Sheridan Foundation will be transformative for the lives of many of our students, and we are so grateful to the trustees for entrusting us with this privilege and responsibility.” 

The Sheridan Foundation gift will specifically help students who are otherwise in good standing at the University and are facing financial emergencies that could jeopardize their continued enrollment - or need funding assistance to move on to their next semester of study. The gift will also supplement the MGA Foundation’s existing scholarship program for students in financial need. 

A core value of Middle Georgia State University is stewardship, which means directing support and resources to student need and financial literacy. Many MGA students have documented financial need. More than 70 percent receive some form of financial assistance. 

The MGA Foundation maintains programs that offer several types of scholarships and gifts to help low-income students. Those programs include the Student Emergency Access to Learning fund, the GAP Funding program, and the Knights Retention fund. Much of the Sheridan Foundation gift funding will be distributed through these funds or others.  

For more information, contact the MGA Foundation at 478.471.2732 or  
[email protected].