The Scioto Foundation has announced the creation of the Wiggins Notre Dame Support Fund, established by lifelong dedicated Notre Dame alumni Jerry Wiggins for the support of the school system’s operating expenses and teacher development.
Wiggins and his wife Mary Lou first established a fund at the Scioto Foundation in 2020 for the tuition assistance of both elementary and high school students in the Notre Dame School System. Now he has taken another generous step forward to provide general support for the Notre Dame Schools that played such a large role in their lives and the lives of their children.
Jerry explained that his family has had a strong involvement in the Notre Dame School System. He remembers that his father, serving as a representative of the Holy Redeemer Schools, was co-chairman of fundraising when the new Notre Dame High School was built and was responsible for naming the building. Now the Wiggins are building the Notre Dame Schools for future generations in another way.
“I truly believe that the Catholic schools in Portsmouth provide a good, sound, moral and ethical foundation for the students and an excellent education,” said Wiggins, explaining the reasons that were his motivation for setting up the new fund. “The school also has a good athletic program, producing healthy students and good entertainment for them.”
Wiggins, who lives in Sarasota, Florida, grew up in Portsmouth, attended Notre Dame elementary schools and he and his wife were classmates at Notre Dame High School before they both graduated from there in 1958. Jerry attended Holy Redeemer Elementary School and Mary Lou went to St. Mary’s Elementary School before the two schools merged.
After high school graduation, Jerry attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated from there in 1962. He did graduate work in accounting at The Ohio State University and earned a CPA certificate. Mary started in nursing school but had to come home to take care of her mother who had had a stroke. The couple was married in 1963.
Jerry was employed in public accounting with Ernst & Ernst Accounting Firm after earning his CPA and later went on to work in industrial accounting. The Wiggins moved to Reading, Pennsylvania where he was employed by the VF Apparel Company for thirteen years, becoming vice president. Then they relocated to Dyersburg, Tennessee, a community just north of Memphis where Jerry was named Vice President of Finance and next, Chief Operating Officer for Dyersburg Fabrics, a textile company.
The Wiggins are the parents of four children, three girls and a boy, and have ten grandchildren. After Jerry retired in 1999, they moved to Sarasota, Florida and built a house there.
Contributions to the Wiggins Notre Dame Support Fund may be made by family, friends, school alumni or the general public at any time. Donations may be in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property.
Additional information about the Wiggins Fund or other planned giving opportunities at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting Patty Tennant, Program Office – Donor Services, or SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.
