President Jimmy Carter grandson, wife celebrate Oglethorpe

Oglethorpe University far surpassed its goal to raise $100,000 at the annual fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb. 12, held in honor of the school’s namesake, Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe.

By the time all was said and done, OU Day raised $213,732. “We blew the goal away,” said Lance Wallace, university spokesperson.

OU Day drew 150 students, faculty, staff and alumni to hear from Sarah Opp Carter, class of 2006, and her husband Josh Carter, President Jimmy Carter’s grandson.

Jimmy Carter, who was a Navy lieutenant, Grammy award winner, the governor of Georgia, president of the United States, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, died Dec. 29, 2024 at 100 years old.

Josh described publicly grieving his grandfather, along with other family members.

“When he died, we had about 10 minutes of having that news to ourselves, and then the news broke,” he said. “We were flooded with support from all over the world.”

Inspired by the Carters’ peacemaking efforts, Sarah said she was “excited to learn history from the people who made it.” She went onto study international peace and conflict resolution in graduate school.

Sarah described the impetus for the founding of VEO-IBD Foundation, a nonprofit started to bring attention to Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The couple’s youngest son, Jonathan, was diagnosed with the condition when he was an infant after experiencing severe gastrointestinal pain and bloody stools.

Jonathan spent 40 days in the hospital. “We were running out of hope,” said Sarah, explaining the years of trying different drugs for Jonathan’s condition.

At nearly three years old, in 2020, Jonathan finally entered remission with a drug that cost $25,000 per month. It was an isolating experience, Sarah said.

“We decided to create the organization that we wish had existed when Jonathan was first diagnosed,” she said.

Now families around the world are reaching out to Josh and Sarah for guidance on the little-known disorder. Josh gave credit to his grandparents for teaching him the importance of connecting with others and spending their lifetimes making a difference.

Wind and rain caused the cancelation of the 35^th annual Petrels of Fire footrace, a challenge to run a lap around the quad before the bell tower chimes stop ringing. Despite the weather, the day ended with a long-time tradition of Coke floats.

A philanthropist, military leader, and member of Parliament, Oglethorpe was regarded as one of Britain’s most active 18th century humanitarians. Feb. 1 marks the anniversary of the arrival of Oglethorpe in Georgia in 1733.