Back in 2009, a very small group of dedicated community members, myself included, got together with a grand idea to create a non-profit organization—an education foundation, to fund over-the-top ideas in the name of academic excellence in the Ashburnham and Westminster schools. The idea was hatched by Superintendent Mike Zapantis and community icon and business person Ron Hurd. They then asked me (Westminster) and Chris Wells (Ashburnham) to join them–and we’ve been soliciting donations and funding grant applications from educators in the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District ever since. In fact, we just granted over $55,000 in to the schools in our more recent grant cycle!
The grants funded by the Ashburnham Westminster foundation must raise the bar on academic excellence, stimulate curiosity, and improve outcomes. To keep things interesting, the challenge for the grant applicants is that the Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence, now 16 years strong, funds only applications that meet all of that criteria and would have never been funded in a typical school budget. We don’t fill in after budget cuts, we reward creativity and teachers who really want to inspire their students to let their imagination be limit.
We’ve had some amazing board members over the years, and with the strong collaboration and never any drama (which is nice!). We currently have 14 board members. The Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence, AWFAE, has granted over more than $270,000 since 2009. Learn more about some of our past grants here.
A recent donation from an AWRSD alumni, the largest single donation the foundation has ever received, came at just the right time, as board members who are also on the Grants Committee were faced with a record number of applications that met the groups criteria for academic excellence – – for a total more than $55,000 in approved grant awards in our 2026 grant cycle. The unexpected donation, and the amount of $25,000 was very validating for us!
Do you love this as much as I do? You can find out more and make a donation here.
The Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence (AWFAE) recently distributed a record amount of grant funding to the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District (AWRSD). Grant awards totaling $55,582 were distributed to the teachers in the district by Dave Uminski, AWFAE Grants Committee Chair, and Chris Wells, AWFAE President. “Our previous record was $32,353 – awarded during the 2018-2019 school year – however our average since the inception of the foundation in 2009 is just over $15,000 per year. This year was by far the most money we have awarded to the schools,” said Wells.
This year’s grant requests from the teachers and staff were among the best the foundation has ever received. “The teachers really put a lot of thought into these grant requests, and we are very excited to see these funds go towards great programs that will help better prepare the students in the district for future success.” Uminski stated. Founded in 2009 by a group of parents and town residents with the goal of raising private money to fund grant requests for the school district, the AWFAE has raised over $400,000 and funded more than 120 grants totaling $270,000.
Dr. Todd Stewart, AWRSD Superintendent added, “The pressure on public schools is as high as it has ever been. Many towns surrounding us have been trying to pass overrides and are struggling to maintain the quality of education that is required. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated group of volunteers here in Ashburnham and Westminster who work hard to raise the money and work directly with our staff to fund programs that enhance academic excellence. We are truly investing in the future of our community.”
Jeff Boudreau, Vice President and Fundraising Chair for the foundation stressed the importance of community support. “The majority of our fundraising takes place at our annual event – A Night for Excellence – which is held the Friday before Thanksgiving at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner or Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Westminster/Princeton. We have a generous community that supports us.”
The AWFAE’s mission is to raise private funds to support teaching and learning through gifts and grants to implement innovative ideas that will enhance the lives of children who attend public schools in the towns of Ashburnham and Westminster. Pictured below are Uminski and Wells delivering checks to the teachers who were awarded
grants.
Natalie Breen and Ann Banning (not pictured)
Westminster Elementary and Meetinghouse School
Family Cardboard Challenge
Grant Amount: $5,570.00
Prime Time Innovation: LEGO Learning for All
Grant Amount: $5,629.06
Little Robot/Big Thinking
Grant Amount: $1,999.98
Terry Miller
Westminster Elementary
Wonderbooks
Grant Amount: $5,629.06
Jon Pack
Overlook Middle School
From CAD to Reality, Expanding Student Fabrication
Grant Amount: $7,905.43
Katrina Bunting
Overlook Middle School
VEX Robotics
Grant Amount: $7,066.15
Greg Secino (not pictured), Peter Jones, Alex Thibeault
Oakmont Regional High School
Laser Engraver
Grant Amount: $12,109.00
Jon Lorden
Overlook Middle School
From Strings to Studio
Grant Amount: $6,704.00
To learn more about the Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence (AWFAE), the grants awarded, and to support the foundation, visit:
www.ashwestfoundation.org.
11 Oakmont Drive
Ashburnham, Massachusetts 01430
www.ashwestfoundation.org • info@ashwestfoundation.org
