PARSONS, Tenn. — The Ayers Foundation marked 25 years this afternoon by providing lunch for not only the community but also for students.

“Our founder, Jim Ayers, he was able to go to college, he had the financial backing by his parents to go to college. But his, one of his best friends, did not. He would say he was just as capable if not more so in every way that he was. So it always kind of haunted him that he couldn’t do anything about that. So he said if I can remove that financial barrier will they go to college, and well they have since 1999,” said Burton Williams, chief executive officer for the Ayers Foundation Trust.

Williams shared that, since 1999, they have helped over 100,000 students.

This is done by providing local students access to scholarships and college counseling.

56% of their students further their education at either community colleges or TCAT programs.

“Majority of our students are first generation and so their parents did not go to college. So it’s really a celebration to see them living in the dreams that they have for themselves. Whatever that is, it may not be a four year college. We consider success going to a four year college, an associates degree, a community college, a TCAT, a military or a certified apprenticeship,” said Williams.

Williams shares that their foundation is now in 33 high schools in 21 counties across Tennessee.

Over the years of meeting students, hearing their stories has made this work worth it. One student shared their story of sleeping in their car.

“What she said that was so profound to me is that she said, through high school I should have been able to depend on certain people and they weren’t there for me. The ones she needed the most weren’t even there so, we became those people. We were able to help her go to UT Martin Parsons and I believe she’s finishing as a nurse,” said Williams.

Williams also continued to share that this evenings celebration will highlight 25 graduates spanning from their first graduating class to the most recent graduates.

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