Jenny Sanford facts for kids

Jennifer Sullivan Sanford (born September 11, 1962) is a well-known American businesswoman and author. She served as the First Lady of South Carolina from 2003 to 2010. Before her time as First Lady, she worked as an investment banker. She was married to Governor Mark Sanford.

Early Life and Education

Jenny Sanford grew up in Winnetka, Illinois, a town near Chicago. She was born Jennifer Sullivan, the second of five children in an Irish Catholic family. Her family was quite well-known in the area. Her great-grandfather, Joseph W. Sullivan, helped start Skil Corporation. This company made the first portable electric saw.

Sanford attended Woodlands Academy. This was an all-girls Catholic school in Lake Forest, Illinois. She then went on to Georgetown University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1984. She graduated with high honors, known as magna cum laude.

Career Highlights

From 1984 to 1990, Jenny Sanford worked at Lazard Freres & Company. This was an investment bank located in New York City. She became a vice president in the company's mergers and acquisitions group. This role involved helping companies buy or combine with other companies.

Sanford has also been considered for political roles herself. In 2012, after Senator Jim DeMint resigned, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley thought of Sanford as a possible replacement. However, another person was chosen for the seat. Sanford was also mentioned as a possible candidate for a House of Representatives seat in 2013, but she decided not to run.

In December 2013, Sanford was appointed to the Charleston County Aviation Authority Board. This board helps manage the airports in Charleston County. In 2014, she showed interest in becoming the President of the College of Charleston, but later withdrew her name.

During the 2014 election, Sanford supported Ginny Deerin. Deerin was running for South Carolina Secretary of State. In March 2015, Sanford also expressed interest in leading the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Personal Life and Family

Marriage and Public Service

Jenny Sanford met her first husband, Mark Sanford, at a beach party in the Hamptons. They married in 1989 and had four sons together.

Jenny Sanford played a big part in her husband's political career. She managed his successful campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 1994. She also managed his successful campaign for Governor of South Carolina in 2002.

As First Lady, she helped her husband daily during his first term as governor. She also co-managed his successful re-election campaign in 2006. In 2005, she started the Healthy South Carolina Challenge. This program aimed to help people reduce preventable diseases. She also served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. These included the Hollings Cancer Center and the Drayton Hall historical property.

Later Life and New Marriage

Jenny Sanford and Mark Sanford divorced in 2010. After her divorce, she wrote a book called Staying True. This book shared her experiences during that time.

In 2018, Jenny Sanford married Andy McKay. He is an investment banker from Louisville, Kentucky.