As the sun rose over Trenton on Monday, Feb. 2, something powerful was already underway outside Foundation Academies public charter school. Policymakers, firefighters, corporate executives, athletes, and community leaders lined the school entrances before dawn, cheering, clapping, and waving handmade signs as students in grades K–12 arrived to celebrate the 100th day of school.

The annual 100 Man Welcome, launched by Foundation Academies in 2018, is a high-energy tradition recognizing students’ perseverance and inspiring them to stay focused as they enter the critical second half of the academic year. The event sends a simple but resonant message: the entire community is invested in their success. See our FA 100 Man Welcome video.

“This is a powerful way to show our scholars that their hard work matters,” said FA CEO Sheria McRae. “When students see positive role models from across the community showing up for them, it reinforces the importance of education and motivates them to finish the school year strong.”

Among those welcoming students were Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, former Mayor Douglas Palmer, Trenton Thunder mascot Boomer and friends, and leaders from NJM Insurance, AmeriHealth, and BlackRock. Volunteers greeted students at both Foundation Academies campuses—363 W. State Street (K–8) and FA Collegiate, 22 Grand Street—creating a corridor of celebration at each entrance.

Foundation Academies, which opened in 2007, now serves more than 1,200 students in kindergarten through grade 12. The school ranks in the top 15 percent of all New Jersey public schools and places in the top 1 percent statewide for academic growth. In August, FA will open a third campus in a former factory that has been transformed into a state-of-the-art high school.

“The 100 Man Welcome is one of my favorite Foundation traditions,” McRae added. “It brings our scholars and community together in a joyful, visible celebration of learning—and that kind of support makes a lasting impact.”