Ayers Foundation celebrates Founders Day
DECATURVILLE, Tenn. — Wednesday marked Founders Day for the Ayers Foundation. Many people gathered together recognize and honor their founders.
Before we talk about the event, we wanted to learn more about the foundation itself. CEO Burt Williams gave us that information.
“Mr. [Jim] Ayers started the foundation to remove the financial barriers for students to go to college,” Williams said. “So he started it here at Riverside High School 26 years ago. Since that time, we are now in 28 counties across the state in 40 high schools.”
Founders Day is pretty much exactly how it sounds — celebrating the founders. Ayers sadly passed away recently and a few people have made generous donations that will be used for another great cause.
“So we’ve setup an endowment and that endowment will provide the Jim Ayers Torch Bearer award, which will be awarded to one of our alumns throughout one of our 28 counties each year that are making a difference in their hometown,” said Williams.
Community members, elected officials, board members, the Ayers family, and many others were in attendance to celebrate the mission.
“The work we do is to get those students to plan out their future, whatever that means to them. Whether it be a two year community college, a TCAT to learn a trade, four year institution or the military,” Williams said.
Many of the students helped through the Ayers Foundation are first generation students.
This is the first year for the Jim Ayers Torch Bearer award and it will continue each year.
For more local news, click here.
