Who We Are

Who We Are

Ayers Foundation Trust 25 Years of transforming rural communities badge

25 Years of Transforming Rural Communities

Who we are. Where we're going.
1999 image shows Jim Ayers next to another man in front of an award
How we got started:
Jim Ayers, a successful banker and businessman from the rural west Tennessee town of Parsons, was one of the first in his family to graduate from college.
In 1999, he formed The Ayers Foundation as a way to give back to his hometown. Jim and his wife, Janet, believe education is the best way to open doors, remove barriers, and give people choices. They started the Ayers Scholars Program at Riverside High School to help students from his alma mater go to college. Today, the Ayers Scholars Program operates in 40 high schools across the state.

Meet our Team

Meet our Leadership Team and get to know our College Access Counselors and Student Success Coordinators. Our team members work tirelessly to support our current Ayers Scholars and Alumni by removing barriers that hinder them from reaching their educational and career goals. Our staff collaborate closely with but are independent from the school administration and all of their costs are covered by the Ayers Foundation Trust

OUR TEAM
OUR COUNSELING TEAM
A group gathers for a photo behind Jim and Janet Ayers

Our History

September 17, 1999
Jim Ayers pictured next to man in 1999

The Ayers Foundation officially approved as a 501 C3

1999
Jim and Janet Ayers pose with group of high school students in auditorium.

Ayers Scholars Program begins at Riverside High School

May 2003
First Ayers Scholar celebrates graduation

Leeanne Tucsnak is the first Ayers Foundation Scholar to graduate from a four-year university. She completed her degree from Union University in just three years.

August 2004
Jim and Janet Ayers pose with students at SHHS in 2004

Ayers Scholars Program begins at Scotts Hill High School

August 2007
Jim and Janet Ayers in 2004

Janet Ayers named President of the Ayers Foundation

March 2009
Jim and Janet Ayers smile for photo in front of many students in a school auditorium

Ayers Scholars Program begins at Perry County High School

August 2011
Lexington High School pictured on a sunny day

Ayers Scholars Program begins at Lexington High School

August 2016
Dated photo of Union County High School

Ayers Scholars Program begins at Unicoi High School

November 8, 2019
The Ayers Foundation 2019

The Ayers Foundation opens headquarters in the childhood home of founder Jim Ayers in Parsons, TN

August 2021
Union County High School outdoors is pictured

Governor Bill Lee and the state legislature invested in the Ayers Foundation Trust to scale the Ayers Scholars Program to 11 high schools in seven additional counties

January 2023
Dr Burton Williams Headshot

Dr. Burton Williams named CEO of Ayers Foundation Trust

August 2023
Tennessee State Capitol building with white columns and central cupola under a clear blue sky.

The legislature funded a second expansion to an additional ten counties in 2023. In total, the Ayers Foundation Trust now provides services to 33 high schools in 21 counties.

September 2023
Attendees smile and applaud as the Ayers Entrepreneur Center ribbon cutting occurs

Come Home Tennessee Launches and the Ayers Entrepreneur Center opens in Parsons, TN

The Ayers Foundation Trust is pleased to financially support and work closely with a variety of other leading healthcare and education programs across the state

Ayers Children’s Medical Center in West Tennessee
Ayers Institute for Pre-Cancer Detection at Vanderbilt
Ayers Institute for Learning and Innovation at Lipscomb University
Janet Ayers Center at Belmont University
The TRAIN Program -TN Rural Acceleration and Innovation Network