Affton Education Foundation

AEF was initially funded through a matching challenge grant from William ('63) & Nancy ('64) Thompson, and, through dedication and hard work over the first decade, was able to grow and secure an endowment of almost $1.7 million. At the end of 2018, the Foundation announced the successful completion of a multi-year Development Challenge Grant Campaign. Since March, 2017, with the generous support of many alumni and friends, AEF was able to raise the $250,000 necessary to meet our Challenge Grant goal. Having met that goal, we received $150,000 in Challenge Funds formed from donation commitments of $50,000 each from three generous alumni families: The Thompson Family Foundation (Bill '63 & Nancy '64 Thompson), David '78 & Datra '79 Herzog, and Kurt '79 & Carolyn '79 Jaeger. The end result of this 1 1/2 year process was that we have increased our endowment by a total of $400,000, thereby reaching our objective of a $2+ million endowment and securing a productive and bright future for our organization, Affton students and the Affton community.

We are proud to support the students and teachers of the Affton School District in the following ways:

Income on the endowment, supplemented by other gifts, is used to award at least six renewable $2,500 college scholarships each year to qualifying Affton High School graduates. For 2020, 10 AEF Scholarships were awarded to deserving AHS seniors. In addition, we offer up to four $2,500 interest-free loans to AHS graduates each year.

AEF lends its support to generous alumni in the establishment of other scholarships, and helps with the administration of same: The Coach Don Kuhn Endowed Scholarship to Westminster College funded by Kent & Judith Mueller; The Rickli Family Endowed Scholarship to Truman State University funded by Ken Rickli; and the Jim Hoots Memorial Scholarship funded by the family and friends of Jim Hoots.

In addition, beginning in 2019, the Foundation instituted the Coach Art Hill Dedication Scholarship which is funded by the annual AEF Golf Tournament.

Every year the Foundation sponsors a series of overnight visits to a variety of Midwest colleges and universities. Attended annually by approximately 80 Affton juniors and seniors, the trips serve to educate our students as to their various post-secondary options and to provide an opportunity that many might not otherwise be able to experience.

Funded by the annual Hall of Fame Gala and other gifts, each year the Foundation provides over twenty grants for classroom enrichment to teachers at all grade levels, Pre-K through 12. To date more than $375,000 has been awarded through this program in the form of 412 classroom grants.

As part of the Teacher Grant Program, AEF encourages Affton High School students to sit for College Board Advanced Placement exams by offering AP exam fee cost reduction. This support was a key factor in Affton being named one of eight Missouri districts on the 5th Annual AP District Honor Roll.