“Education is so important to me and to Elton. We are both the first in our families to have a college degree, and we both feel that education was our key. It made so many things possible.” Growing up poor in Appalachia gave Gordie White an acute
important to me and to Elton. We are both the first in our
sense of what it means to live on the edge of poverty, and
families to have a college degree, and we both feel that
she has made it her mission to make sure that those less
education was our key. It made so many things possible.”
fortunate than herself get a fair shake at a prosperous life. That belief led to their support of Children First, a nonprofit Gordie met Elton White, the love of her life, at Berea College
organization that serves over 600 of Sarasota County’s
in Kentucky, where they both studied business.
most vulnerable children (from birth to five years of age) and their families. Based on the Head Start program, Chil-
“It’s a small Liberal Arts college that was established as an
dren First offers full-day, year-round early education using
interracial, non-denominational school in 1855,” she said.
recognized curricula and assessment tools.
“It’s for bright, promising students who need a little help and are willing to work.”
“They don’t just babysit children,” Gordie said. “Children First trains children. They educate children and their par-
Elton went on to the University of Kentucky to finish his
ents. And education is the way out of poverty.”
studies to earn an MBA. The couple married in 1965 and moved to Dayton, Ohio where they lived for 27 years and
The Salvation Army, Resurrection House, Moffitt Cancer
had two children, David and Tricia. Gordie completed her
Center, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, All Faiths Food Bank
education at Miami of Ohio with a degree in business ed-
and the Red Cross, and the Sarasota Family YMCA are
ucation, while Elton steadily rose through the ranks with
among the other human services organizations that benefit
National Cash Register Company, eventually becoming
from the Whites’ philanthropy.
president of the firm. “Our interests are in the welfare and benefit of children, the “Elton’s career was taking off while I taught school and
poor, and the homeless,” Gordie said. “When I was in high
we determined our children needed a parent, so I was the
school, I had a guidance counselor who urged me to go to
logical one to stay home,” she said. “His travels took him to
college. He pushed me to fill out the applications. I went, and
many countries, and our kids were raised in a culture that
the impact on my life was amazing. Education is where change
said, meet and greet people from around the world. They’re
happens. And I feel good when I help someone in need.”
all the same. People are people.” Gordie added that philanthropy does not necessarily come The family purchased a vacation condo on Siesta Key in
from donating dollars.
1978. Gordie and Elton loved the area so much that Sarasota became their permanent home after he retired from
“Philanthropy is giving time, it’s giving effort, it’s giving love,”
NCR in 1994. Soon thereafter, Gordie began to look for a
she said. “It’s taking dinner to a sick friend. And I’ve tried to
way to give back to her new community.
set that example for my children and grandchildren, just as it was set for me. We leave an awfully big footprint on this
“I grew up very poor and I feel that doors were opened
earth, when you think in terms of the environment. I would
for me through education,” Gordie said. “Education is so
rather leave a big heart print.”
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May 2012
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