Congratulations to Richard “Dick” Eckburg! The Georgia Technical College Foundation Association recently honored him as TCFA’s “Benefactor of the Year” and rightly so. His $500,000 gift to the college’s foundation and incredible vision helped the college gain valuable buy-in and support from others in the area, which maintained the energy and momentum needed to complete the work.

Dick Eckburg makes me think I can do anything! I love this man and the philanthropic legacy he has created in Savannah. Every six months or so, we catch up over coffee and I always look forward to his insight. I cannot help but feel inspired after our meeting, if only for the fact that at 7:30 a.m. he has much more energy than most people half my age!

This is not the first of Dick’s generous donations. In fact in 2006, to the astonishment of the entire community, he pledged $5,000,000 to Savannah Christian Preparatory School – the largest donation ever to any organization or private school in the entire state of Georgia at the time. Read full story here.

My children currently attend Savannah Christian and it’s funny because they think I’m a rock star because I know Dick! I’ll never forget, one night a few years ago I had the good fortune to sit next to Dick at dinner. While sipping scotch, we talked about our mutual love of the water and I jokingly asked him for his autograph for my kids. Of course he obliged and wrote a note to my kids instructing them to study hard at SCPS! Phillip and Reilly couldn’t believe Mr. Eckburg took the time to write them and I was reminded it’s those little things that make a big difference. Thanks Dick for all you do for our community!

Is there anyone out there who has a great Dick Eckburg story?