Gary W. Rollins: Donor Grants

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Rollins Inc.

FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health & Human Services

OVERVIEW: Gary Rollins and family move their philanthropy through the Gary W. Rollins Foundation, which gave away $5.7 million in a recent year, which supports children’s health and education programs, especially in Atlanta, the location of Rollins’ headquarters.

BACKGROUND: Gary W. Rollins graduated from University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Gary Rollins and his brother Randall manage Orkin, the biggest pest control company by revenue in North America. Umbrella company Rollins Inc. was launched by their father and uncle.

ISSUES:

EDUCATION & YOUTH: Rollins recently made a $40 million gift to his alma mater University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, creating the Gary W. Rollins College of Business. The family has also supported Emory University. Another Rollins philanthropic vehicle which bears the name of his father, has been supporting Emory for years. Rollins is a trustee of that vehicle, as well. Other grantees have included Trinity School and Westminster Schools.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia, Atlanta Union Mission, Women in Need God’s Shelter, and City of Refuge, which recently received a 7-figure gift.

OTHER: The Rollins family is active in their Atlanta community. They’ve also supported places like Zoo Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. The family also directs large sums to a donor-advised fund at Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, obscuring the full scope of their giving.

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Rollins family to stick with their established interest areas for now. Down the line, his four children should be watched as well.

CONTACT:

The Gary W. Rollins Foundation
c/o RFA Management Co., LLC
1908 Cliff Valley Way
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 486-4676