One of the grants funded by the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation in the fall of 2025 helped establish a clothing closet at Windermere Elementary School to support students in need. This project was made possible through the generosity of Amherst alumni who contribute to our grant program.
From the Windy’s Clothing Closet team:
Here is a peek into our new clothing closet, which moved from Windermere Boulevard Elementary school to a church down the street! Thank you for the totes, shelving, and other materials that are arriving! We could not have done it without the support of Amherst Alumni members and leadership!
As we approach the close of another wonderful and exciting year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your continued generosity, enthusiasm, and support of the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation, Inc. Our community once again demonstrated what makes Amherst truly special: a commitment to excellence, to tradition, and to investing in the success of future generations.
This year marked our first annual Meat Raffle, and it was a tremendous success. With over 150 participants and the help of our dedicated community partners and sponsors, the event exceeded all expectations and contributed significantly to our fundraising efforts. We are grateful to everyone who helped make this new tradition such a fun and memorable experience—and we are already looking forward to our next Meat Raffle this coming May. Get your Kentucky Derby hats ready!
Thanks to your contributions, we raised $17,452.11 this year to support the ACAF mission and vision. Your support allowed us to fund $23,491.94 in grants during the 2024–2025 school year, directly enriching the educational experiences of Amherst students and educators. With your help, we have now proudly surpassed $213,110.49 in total grants awarded all-time—a remarkable milestone for our foundation and for the district we serve.
This year also marked two important moments for our organization. We were honored to award the first-ever Dimp Wagner Scholarship to a graduating Amherst Senior, carrying forward a legacy of dedication and school spirit. This scholarship will continue to honor Dimp’s memory and help students strive for their dreams after Amherst. In addition, we celebrated the return of the Distinguished Alumni and Faculty Emeritus Ceremony, the first held since COVID. It was a joy to once again gather in recognition of those who have made extraordinary contributions to our schools and community.
None of these achievements would be possible without you. Whether you attended an event, made a donation, volunteered your time, or simply shared your Tiger Pride, you have helped strengthen the Amherst tradition for generations past, present, and future.
On behalf of the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation, Inc., I wish you and your loved ones a joyful, safe, and restful holiday season. Thank you for making this year exceptional—and here’s to an inspiring year ahead.
All the best,
Samantha Sweeney-General Class of 2007 President Amherst Central Alumni Foundation, Inc.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, is Giving Tuesday. Please consider a gift to the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation. Click here for more information.
Thank you for our Memory Books! They are a treasure! Sue and Shannon
Susan R. Strefeler Grade 3 Teacher Windermere Boulevard Elementary School Amherst Central School District
One of the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation’s Spring Grants was for third-grade students at Windermere. The teachers submitted a grant application to purchase supplies to create memory books for the students.
Grants like this are made possible by the generosity of Amherst Alumni and their donations. If you want to donate to the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation to help fund grants like these, visit https://www.amherstalumni.org/Donate.htm.
The Amherst Central Alumni Foundation recently funded a visit by the Buffalo Museum of Science’s “Buffalo Museum on Wheels” to Windermere Boulevard School first graders.
Grants like this are made possible by the generosity of Amherst Alumni and their donations. If you want to donate to the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation to help fund grants like these, visit https://www.amherstalumni.org/Donate.htm.
The first-grade teachers involved in the project were kind enough send us photos and have their students send us thank you notes.
Tiger Tracks 