Planters Telephone Foundation Effingham County

The Planters Telephone Foundation Effingham Scholarship was established in 2000 with a gift of $30,000 gift from the Planters Telephone Foundation. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support and recognition to outstanding students attending Georgia Southern University.

Planters Telephone Cooperative Foundation realizes Georgia Southern University’s impact on the citizens and students of Screven and Effingham counties. Their support has been focused on several areas of the University since 1994.

“Our board is comprised of several current and former educators, so it is no surprise that our primary focus is on education. We realize that Georgia Southern is the first choice for many of our subscribers and their children,” said Stephen Milner (’96), director of the Foundation’s board.

“We are proud to help fund several programs that enrich both the K-12 students in our service area and the University.”

Planters, the telephone and broadband data service provider for Screven and Effingham county residents, has consistently supported the University in many education-based initiatives that benefit elementary, middle and high school students. One example is the founding of the Eagle Science Camp, a residential camp that introduced middle and high school students to the world of college-level scientific study.

Planters Telephone Cooperative, Inc. has its headquarters in Newington, GA. The incorporators of Planters Telephone held their first meeting at Jenkins County Courthouse on July 6, 1950. In March, 1951, the directors completed the purchase of the Effingham Telephone Company, which included two exchanges at Guyton and Pineora. At the same time, negotiations were proceeding for a loan from the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) telephone program to build a new system to cover Screven County and to expand the project to Effingham County as soon as possible.