AEF News

Gala 2024 donation and contribution forms

We are looking for donations for the 2024 Gala

The Gala is scheduled:

Affton Education Foundation Hall of Fame Gala
Saturday, March 2, 2024, At Greenbriar Hills Country Club
12665 Big Bend Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122

Gala 2023 donation and contribution forms

We are looking for donations for the 2023 Gala

The Gala is scheduled:

Affton Education Foundation Hall of Fame Gala
Saturday, March 4, 2023, At Greenbriar Hills Country Club
12665 Big Bend Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122

“Supporting our Community - The Tradition Continues” Gala 2022

Please join us for our 18th Annual

Affton Education Foundation Hall of Fame Gala

Saturday, March 5, 2022 At Greenbriar Hills Country Club

“Honoring our Scholars” 2021 Hall of Fame Gala

Throughout this past difficult year, the Affton Education Foundation has remained dedicated to our goal of preserving the high educational standards of the Affton School District by providing additional classroom resources and inspiring students to attend college. In 2020, we succeeded in awarding 25 teacher grants for classroom enrichment, totaling over $30,000.00. In addition, we’re proud that we’ve been able to maintain our scholarship commitments, and that we are currently paying out on 26 AEF renewable college scholarships, to the tune of $65,000.00.

Even though the times are still uncertain, and despite the many challenges we all still face, we don’t want to miss the opportunity to celebrate our successes and acknowledge our many loyal supporters. In that light, we’ve decided to delay, but not cancel, our annual gathering… so please save the date for the following celebratory event:

New scholarships funded by Thompson Family Foundation

The Affton Education Foundation has always focused on encouraging students to pursue degrees at four-year colleges and universities. However, recent studies have shown that large numbers of high school graduates are choosing alternate ways of continuing their education. Nationwide, many students are opting to attend junior college to complete their general education requirements before transferring to four-year institutions, while others are taking a vocational/technical school path.

AEF Celebrates 15th Anniversary: Join us for an Affton Mega-Reunion Gala!!

“What Makes Affton Special?”… You’ll find out on Saturday, March 9, 2019 when the Affton Education Foundation will present a fun and festive event for the entire Affton community. Event organizer Judy Rethwisch promises a night you won’t forget… a special evening of live entertainment, with special activities organized by Kyle Palacios (AHS ’77) and Angie Sykora (’81), and a wide array of exciting items for your bidding and raffle pleasure arranged by Live & Silent Auction Chair Patti Behlmann.

Buy Tickets online here or download the form here.

2018 “Countdown to Liftoff!” 14th Annual Affton Education Foundation Hall of Fame Gala

Event details:

"Countdown to Liftoff!"

14th Annual Affton Education Foundation Hall of Fame Gala

Saturday, March 10, 2018, doors open 6pm

Centennial Ballroom of Moulin Events in Lafayette Square

2017 Chouteau, 63103

Reservation deadline: February 28

Hall of Fame Gala moves to Moulin: Join us as we “Countdown to Liftoff!”

For more than a decade, the Affton Education Foundation’s support for the district has been a veritable tour de force. We’ve remained true to our mission of preserving high educational standards, and our efforts to provide additional classroom resources and encourage students to attend college have been nothing less than formidable. Rightfully proud of our accomplishments thus far, and of our $1.7 million endowment, we now look forward to writing our next chapter, and we’re eager to “take up the gauntlet” to meet the future head on. Our goal is to grow the AEF endowment to the $2+ million mark, so we’ve embarked on a multi-year Development Challenge Grant Campaign. We’re “counting down to liftoff…” as we “shoot for the stars!” We’ll need your support to succeed, so we hope you’ll save the date for the:

2018 Affton Education Foundation Hall of Fame Gala
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Centennial Ballroom
Moulin Events - Lafayette Square

Alums, teachers and other Affton friends will gather to celebrate amid the classic décor de cabaret of the trendy Moulin Events venue in Lafayette Square… C’est très chic, n’est-ce pas? Exciting oral and silent auctions will feature beaucoup de booty for your bidding pleasure. And la pièce de résistance will be the induction of a “stellar” class of distinguished alumni into the Affton Hall of Fame. With a little help from you, we can-can make this our best Gala ever.

Please consider nominating an illustrious Affton alum for the Hall of Fame

For information on sponsorships, or to make an auction donation,
please contact us at 636-343-9007 or 314-633-0012 or judyreth@aol.com.
This promises to be une fête extraordinaire!
You won’t want to miss it, so mark your calendar for March 10, 2018!

Join us as we "Countdown to Liftoff…” and to a brighter future for Affton!

2017 Cougar World, Alumni Events Issue (download)

DOWNLOAD HERE

Inside this issue:
2018 Hall of Fame Event
A Message from the President Support AEF
Foundation Board Firehouse Event Recap/Challenge Grant Kick-Off Upcoming Events
2017 Hall of Fame Gala Hall of Fame Nominations Scholarship Awards College Campus Visits Teacher Grants
Brick Paver Program
Class of ‘57 Reunion
2018 Reunion Reminders
Other Alum Get-Togethers
Hoots Golf Tournament
What’s New with You?
Keep us in the loop…
Affton Alumni Association
Alumni Class Contacts
Save the Date
We need your e-mail!

Press Release - Development Challenge Grant Campaign

The Affton Education Foundation (AEF) is pleased to announce its participation in a $150,000 Development Challenge Grant Campaign.

AEF has supported the students and teachers of the Affton School District and community since 2005. Our original mission continues to be our guide - to improve and enhance educational opportunities and resources for all children enrolled in the district and for the teachers who support them. Our goal is to preserve the high educational standards of the district by providing additional classroom resources and inspiring students to attend college.

Each year, AEF awards grants for classroom enrichment to teachers at all grade levels, Pre-K through 12. For the 2016-2017 school year, we funded 33 classroom grants totaling over $30,000, and since its inception, the Teacher Grant Program has awarded 294 grants totaling over $258,000.

AEF’s support of Affton graduates takes many forms. We award up to six (6) renewable $2,500 scholarships, and up to four (4) $2,500 interest-free loans, each year to qualifying Affton High School graduates. In addition, we encourage and support generous alumni in the establishment of other scholarships, and help with the administration of same:
The Rickli Family Scholarship to Truman State University (funded by the Kenneth Rickli family; full-tuition and renewable)
The Coach Don Kuhn Scholarship to Westminster College (funded by Kent & Judith Mueller; full-tuition and renewable)
The Jim Hoots Memorial Scholarship (established by the family and friends of Affton alumnus Jim Hoots to provide college funds for Affton High School scholar athletes; $2,500 - renewable)
Finally, every year AEF sponsors a series of overnight college campus visits that are attended by up to 80 Affton juniors and seniors.

Affton Community Approves Props I+N

By Erica Chandler

Affton family, thank you for supporting our schools and our children November 8 at the polls! The official results are in, and Props I and N have been approved by the voters.

Hall of Fame Gala moves to Redbird Club Join our goal of “Batting to $2 Million for Affton!”

Over the past decade, the Affton Education Foundation has racked up an impressive average when it comes to supporting the students and teachers of Affton. We enjoyed a record-breaking 2016 - and we truly “Hit It Out of the Park” with last spring’s Hall of Fame Gala. While proud of our accomplishments, and of our $1.7 million endowment, we know we can do more.

2016 Cougar World, Alumni Events Issue (download)

Click to download the 2016 Cougar World

Inside this issue:
2017 Hall of Fame Event
A Message from the President
Support AEF
Foundation Board
Hoots Golf Tournament

Welcome to the New AEF Website!

We are pleased to announce the launch of our brand new website! After several months of hard work and dedication, we are delighted to officially announce the launch on June 1, 2016.

Our goal with this new website is to provide our visitors an easier way to learn about the Affton Education Foundation and also encourage visitors to get excited about all the AEF is doing to enhance the educational opportunities in the Affton School District.

Third Annual Golf tournament to benefit Jim Hoots Scholarship

Family, friends, colleagues, students, former athletes and Affton alumni meet every year to celebrate and honor Jim Hoots, a great man, and one who made a difference in their lives. Jim was an outstanding athlete and proud ‘67 graduate of Affton High School. He attended Missouri Southern State University on a full athletic scholarship, and went on to teach Physical Education at Affton High School, St. Louis Country Day, John Burroughs and The Community School… a total of 38 years. Jim was a very caring, giving and loving man who dedicated himself to the the lives of thousands of students and athletes. Known as the “Gentle Giant,” he not only had a profound impact on students, but on the lives of all he touched. He was loved by all who knew him. The Jim Hoots Memorial Scholarship was established after Jim’s sudden passing in October of 2013.

2015 - 2016 Affton Education Foundation Teacher Grant Recipients

Every year, the Affton Education Foundation encourages teachers to apply for grants to support their unique efforts in the classroom. For the 2015-2016 school year, a total of 31 grants were awarded to 33 individuals from Early Childhood Education through High School. AEF Teacher Grants enrich the curriculum by providing extra activities, technology and materials. Total grant monies awarded amounted to $26,432.62. The recipients were: