Through his foundation, Tom Cousins uses real estate to make the world a better place to live.
An SEC champion swimmer at the University of Georgia, Tom Cousins founded Cousins Properties Inc. in 1958 and transformed it into one of the most prominent real estate investment trusts in the country. Cousins Properties has developed Atlanta landmarks such as the CNN Center, the Omni Coliseum and Bank of America Plaza. The company also donated the land, provided the preliminary architectural drawings and guaranteed the construction cost for the first stage of the World Congress Center, Georgia’s world-class convention and meeting facility.
As an early owner of the NBA’s Hawks and NHL’s Flames, Cousins helped lure professional basketball and hockey to the South. The civic-minded entrepreneur has given millions of dollars to various causes through his Cousins Foundation, which he formed in 1987 and funds with Cousins Properties stock. Through his foundation, Cousins is committed to revitalizing inner-city neighborhoods and funding educational scholarships for at-risk youth.
In 2002, Tom Cousins was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.