The Ayers Foundation celebrates its 20th year with new headquarters in Parsons

It has been 20 years since the Ayers Foundation started its scholarship program to improve the quality of life and education of rural Tennesseans. On Friday, the foundation celebrated its history with the opening of its new headquarters in Parson.

"The foundation of education opens so many doors," Ayers Foundation President Janet Ayers said during her opening remarks. 

The Ayers started their foundation in 1999 to improve the quality of life in Tennessee. In particular, the foundation aimed to improve the state in the fields of education, conservation and social welfare.

The Ayers Foundation has served nearly 7,000 students

Jim Ayers grew up in Parsons before going on to a successful business career. His most successful venture was to expand the FirstBank in Tennessee. 

Ayers bought the First National Bank of Lexington in 1986. He renamed it FirstBank and expanded it's from one branch to become the third-largest banking company in Tennessee

Over the years, the foundation has made various contributions to organizations like the Vanderbilt Medical Center and Lipscomb University to improve education and health outcomes. In 2005, he made a $5 million donation to create the Ayers Children Medical Center in Jackson.

But, one of the foundation's biggest accomplishments is its scholarship program to help students go to college. 

"It's not the money that makes the most difference it's the assistance," Senator Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, said during the celebration. "It's the councilors, it's helping someone who doesn't exactly know what to do about college to navigate college to make it through all the way to the end. That's the secret sauce of a higher college graduation rate across the board."

Along with scholarships the foundation funds and trains college and career counselors. The program is in nine West Tennessee and two Missouri high schools.

The program provides services to students as early as eighth grade. The program has served almost 7,000 students.

"You have those who let bureaucracy be the excuse not to do it, and then you have those who make sure it's done right and safely, but they get out of the way so progress can happen," Janet Ayers said. "I can say we have been blessed from the governor's office to our mayor's office in Decatur County to be able to have that support."

Friday celebration was for the foundation's new offices located at the childhood home of Jim Ayers in Parsons. The celebration included videos tributes from former Gov Bill Haslam and Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, as well as speeches from Gov. Bill Lee (R), and former Tennessee Governors Alexander, Winfield Dunn, Don Sundquist and Phil Bredesen.

"What the foundation and Jim Ayers have been doing over the years is such an important contribution to creating opportunity and mobility in this country," Bredesen said. 

Reach Adam Friedman by email at afriedman@jacksonsun.com, by phone at 731-431-8517 or follow him on Twitter @friedmanadam5.