An Ave Maria Story: The Legacy of George and Ginger Collins

George and Ginger Collins were simple people. George grew up in Kentucky, served in the Navy, and worked as an electrician and power company lineman. His wife, Ginger, grew up in Miami and spent her career working as a bank teller. At the time when Ave Maria was being built, they were living in Naples, Florida. George was one of the linemen on the crew that first ran the power lines out to the fields that would become the town of Ave Maria.

George had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary—and once he realized that the town was named after the moment of Mary’s great cooperation with the Divine Will, he and Ginger became keen followers of its development.

After retiring and moving to a small fishing village on St. John’s River, they spent a lot of their free time getting involved at a local migrant mission church.

Inspired by Ave Maria University founder Tom Monaghan and their great love for the Blessed Mother, they committed the majority of their earthly wealth—which, at that time, was $200,000—to the mission of Ave Maria University. Ginger and George didn’t have any children of their own, but in this way, the University and its lively students became their family.

In 2016 things took an unexpected turn. On Saturday, July 2, they won a $12 million Florida Lottery jackpot, opting to take it in a lump-sum payout of $9,206,848.92. But even in the face of new-found wealth, Ginger and George Collins chose a humble, simple life—and with extraordinary generosity committed 100% of their estate to Ave Maria University.

“Ginger” Collins passed away on August 1, 2021. Exactly one month later, she was followed into the next life by her beloved husband of 55 years, George, who passed away on September 1. Soon after, news broke of the incredible bequest of more than $7 million dollars from the estate of George and Ginger Collins to Ave Maria University to be used towards the support of theology and religious vocations.

That is the story of how two kind and hard-working people, with faithfulness and continued love for Jesus and Mary, were instruments of incredible blessings for so many young people.

It is an Ave Maria story.