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“Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.”
 – G.K. Chesterton

Online Donations Center

There are many ways to contribute to AEFI. Choose from our AEFI Grants Fund, or pick a special cause or program that you would like to support as described below. Thank you for your generosity!

AEFI Grant Fund

The AEFI Grant Fund powers AEFI’s main objective — funding innovation through its competitive grant program. From greenhouses to seismographs … from graveyard local history projects to woodlands trail projects … from rocket math to poultry in motion … AEFI has awarded more than $145,000 in grants! Awarded once a year in the spring, the grants are designed to encourage and support collaborative efforts among teachers, administrators, parents, and community organizations, based on merit and innovation. Check out the Past Grant Recipients page to see them all!

Peter Gray Friend of Education Recognition

This award was designed to recognize others who have given so much to the care and education of our children. Anyone wishing to assist AEFI’s mission may name an individual as a Peter Gray Friend of Education by making a tax-deductible contribution of $500 to the Amesbury Educational Foundation, Inc. Nominations are accepted at any time throughout the year. Read more …

AEFI A+ Award

Are you looking for a way to say “thank you” to a teacher for the holidays or at the end of the school year? Is there a teacher or administrator who has made a difference in your child’s life? AEFI’s A+ AWARD campaign gives you the opportunity to recognize an educator’s outstanding service in a tangible and meaningful way by making a donation to our organization. Contributions in any amount are welcome. Read more …

Barbara Randall Bailey Memorial Fund

Barbara Randall Bailey was raised in Amesbury and graduated from the Amesbury School System in 1969. After earning her degree from Framingham State College she chose to return to her home town, where she was a successful and treasured teacher for 35 years. Barbara brought an insatiable sense of wonder and curiosity to the classroom, and each student who passed through it benefited from her considerable talents. She was an innovative educator and a creative thinker as well as a caring and supportive friend, colleague and mentor.

Barbara’s interests went far beyond the classroom. She was an avid outdoor enthusiast as well as an accomplished artist who explored a variety of mediums, including photography, water colors and textiles.

In establishing the Barbara Randall Bailey Memorial Fund we hope to celebrate and perpetuate that unique combination of intellectual curiosity, creativity and willingness support others that she lived every day through annual scholarships and grants. Read more…

Elizabeth Haskell Memorial Grant Fund for the Arts

Elizabeth Haskell was only 13 years old when she was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Her father, Tim Haskell, was a longtime employee of the Town of Amesbury as the DPW Director. Even though Tim and his family had moved to Maine, he continued to have strong ties to Amesbury. When Elizabeth died, Tim’s friends in Amesbury wanted to honor her and preserve her memory. Because she was a gifted musician, it was decided that the funds raised would go to the Amesbury Educational Foundation for the specific purpose of grants for the arts. We are very grateful to the Haskell family for selecting AEFI to represent their daughter’s legacy.

Jeffrey Donovan Grant Fund for the Performing Arts

Jeffrey grew up in Amesbury and is a 1986 graduate of AHS. After graduating, he went on to UMass/Amherst, the first person in his family to attend college. He was then one of only 18 out of 1000 applicants to be admitted to the NYU Graduate Acting Program. He has appeared on stage, in films, and on television. In 2007 he landed the starring role of Michael Westen in the USA network series Burn Notice. He has earned critical acclaim for his performances in movies such as Come Early Morning, Hitch, and the Academy Award nominated Changeling. Jeffrey is committed to giving back to his hometown and the schools where his dreams of becoming an actor were cultivated. This fund supports grants to enhance the performing arts and encourage other Amesbury public school students to follow their dreams and their hearts, just as Jeffrey’s mother encouraged him.

AEFI Future Fund

The AEFI Future Fund was established to build a financial vehicle to provide a permanent source of revenue to fund grants to teachers in the Amesbury Public School system. As the Fund grows, the increased income from the Fund will allow AEFI to award grants at a consistent level regardless of the economic climate

AHS Student Enrichment Activity (SEA) Fund

The primary objective of this fund is to support activities that enrich the educational experiences of all AHS students. The intention is to underwrite participation fees for activities and programs for students who would be denied these opportunities without financial assistance. The fund supports a broad range of developmental activities.

AHS Early College Program

The Amesbury High School Early College Program provides the exciting opportunity for students enrolled in the program to earn up to 45 college credits (most of an Associates Degree) from Northern Essex Community College (NECC) by the time they complete their high school diploma. Beginning in their sophomore year, students participate in a “learning community” of three courses that are co-taught by faculty from NECC and the high school. Students receive full standing at the college, including NECC identification cards, and library and student activities privileges. In conjunction with AHS and NECC, AEFI provides financial support by enabling tuition for the credits to be less than half of what it would cost the students to take the same courses at the NECC campus.

Jordan Shay Memorial Scholarship

Jordan graduated from Amesbury High School in 2005. He went on to serve in the United States Army and was killed in Iraq in September of 2009. It was his specific wish that if he did not make it back home that a scholarship be created for an Amesbury High School student who wants to attend college to become a police officer, a fire fighter, or other service-oriented career and who wants to make a difference in the world. Each year two graduating seniors will receive special gifts of $1,000 each to pursue their dreams. This scholarship is a small part of Jordan’s lasting legacy in his hometown of Amesbury. (Note: The Hoppin’ Mad Mud Run benefits this scholarship.)

Kevin Cassidy Memorial Scholarship

Kevin Cassidy, Jr., was a 2002 AHS graduate who left us too early at the age of 21 in 2005. His friends honored his memory by holding a whiffleball tournament in 2006 and called it the Cassidy Cup. It has been great for family and friends to compete for the cup for the past four years. Since Kevin enjoyed golf as much as he loved whiffleball, a golf tournament will be the 2010 competition for the Cassidy Cup. Names of the winning team members will be placed on the cup with past winners. Proceeds from the tournaments benefit the scholarship fund managed by AEFI. Through AEFI, ten additional scholarships have been awarded to AHS students, allowing them to participate in the distant learning program offered by AHS through its partnership with Northern Essex Community College.

AEFI College Head Start Scholarship

The AEFI Head Start Scholarship was created in 2005 from a generous gift received by an anonymous donor. This scholarship program is intended to provide opportunities to deserving Amesbury High School students with financial need who may not otherwise be able to participate in one of the distant learning programs offered by Amesbury High School through its partnership with Northern Essex Community College. This scholarship program is also currently supporting the Amesbury Early College Program.

William H. Noyes & Buddy Knox Scholarship for Math Leadership

Two scholarships are awarded each year to the Math Team Captains at Amesbury High School to encourage leadership in the mathematical field.

Jeffrey Donovan Scholarship for the Arts

This scholarship was established by Jeffrey Donovan through AEFI to award one $10,000 scholarship each year to an Amesbury High School senior who plans to major in a fine arts career program in college. The scholarship will be awarded to a student who demonstrates talent, financial need, and passion.