The J. Michael Sunderland Team 100
Join the Team by Committing $100
In 2023, the foundation’s “100 Families for $100” program was renamed the J. Michael Sunderland Team 100 to honor Mike Sunderland, a longtime AWFAE Board member, Grants Committee Chairperson and visionary who brought the 100 for $100 concept to AWFAE. Mike passed in early 2023, and board members unanimously voted to pay tribute by naming our endowment fund in memory of him.
The aim of this program is to have families join Team 100 by committing to donate $100, and to ultimately do so on an annual basis. To help us reach our goal you may select one of the following methods for your donation:
Make a 5 Year Commitment
Make a difference by committing to give for 5 years, and empower the foundation to award more grants of greater value for innovative teaching ideas.
| Team 100, 5 Years |
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Just enter your name as you’d like to be recognized (ie. ‘Mr & Mrs John Q. Sample’ or ‘The Sample Family’) and click Subscribe. |
Make a one-time $100 donation
Donate By Check
Alternatively, you can make an annual payment by mailing your tax-deductible donation to: Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence, 11 Oakmont Drive, Ashburnham, MA 01430.
Thank you for your continued support of academic excellence in AWRSD!
How a Commitment Helps Your Children
Since 2009, the Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence (AWFAE) has awarded more than $100,000 in academic excellence grants to Ashburnham and Westminster classrooms. These grants have been awarded specifically to develop academic programs that focus on academic excellence. We recognize and appreciate the support we have received for the Foundation and the 100 Families for $100 has been a big part of that.
In order for AWFAE to make a sustainable difference in the educational lives of our children, we have established an endowment that will eventually provide substantial funds for the Foundation to continue its mission in perpetuity. This initiative challenges the community to join Team 100 by making an annual donation of $100. Please join us and benefit the long term success of AWFAE.
The $10,000 raised in this fund drive will be invested with the highly reputable Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. The CFNCM is a collection of charitable funds that are established by various donors, then pooled together and invested so that the income generated provides a sustaining resource for the local community. Our participation in this organization gives us the financial security we are looking for along with a steady source of income that will benefit the students and teachers in our district.
As more families join this annual fund drive, and as the endowment grows, it will provide interest income that will be added to the grant program. It will also provide us with an opportunity to apply for matching grants from other state, federal, and private foundations. We hope that you will be able to continue your contribution in future years to allow the AWFAE to provide our teachers with the financial backing that will present your children with opportunities to excel.
The Chinese proverb, “Give me a fish I eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime.” succinctly represents the goal of the Team 100 program. Your donation today will enable the Foundation to promote academic excellence in Ashburnham and Westminster schools for years to come.
Please join AWFAE in establishing an endowment that will enable us to improve our grant program in Ashburnham and Westminster schools.