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The Event
October 13th, 2026 at
Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club
Each year, FFI presents the Eileen D. Foley Award to a New Hampshire citizen(s) who takes personal responsibility in making the world a better place. Ben Auger's family, friends, and fellow community leaders will gather to present him with this year’s award and watch as he is “roasted” by his family and friends.
RSVP by October 1st
About Ben
Ben believes giving and providing are some of the most important tenets of a full and inspired life. Community involvement started early and advanced quickly, with a first board presidency in 1995. Since then he’s been involved with and contributed to dozens of organizations, most recently starting a school in Tanzania and board presidency at Ogunquit Playhouse
Ben is also founder and operator of AUGER, a Seacoast region design/build firm.
About FFI
Since 1986, Friends Forever International has empowered more than 2,000 young people from over 30 countries to become empathetic, courageous, and community-minded leaders. Through immersive leadership experiences, meaningful service, and lifelong friendships across cultures and backgrounds, FFI helps young people become the best versions of themselves so they can help their communities become the best versions of themselves. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we're grateful to everyone who has helped make this journey possible and excited for the next generation of leaders still to come.
About the Eileen D. Foley Award
Each year FFI selects a prominent member of the New Hampshire community to honor with the Eileen D. Foley Award at our annual roast-style fundraiser. A former Portsmouth mayor, Eileen D. Foley dedicated her career to public service and charitable causes. After being presented with the award, each year’s recipient is “roasted” by family and friends.
How the Recipient is Selected
Recipients of the Eileen D. Foley award are chosen by a committee comprised of representatives from the FFI Board of Directors and past recipients of the Award. The panel meets several times and looks at a variety of categories, including years of service in the “trenches,” scale and scope of service, impact on the community, how they personally align with the values of FFI, and if they truly represent the spirit of the award and Eileen D. Foley, its namesake.
If any community members have suggestions for the selection committee, please contact FFI Executive Director Stephen Martineau at steve@ff.international.
About Eileen D. Foley
In 2008, when we were brainstorming an annual award to recognize people in the community making a difference day in and day out and who we wanted to be an inspiration to our international youth as well as to the local community, the easiest part of the whole process was who we should name the award after Eileen Dondero Foley. She represents the best that the Seacoast has to offer. Her charm, wit, grace under fire, vision, understanding, and commitment to both local and global issues inspired thousands across the street and the world. Friends Forever International was honored to establish the Eileen Dondero Foley Award to commemorate her lifetime of service and to annually recognize those special individuals among us that have taken a personal responsibility to make the world a better place.
With Eileen’s passing in 2016, in partnership with the Foley Family, FFI established the Eileen Dondero Foley Fund. The proceeds from this fund will annually generate enough revenue to bring over one outstanding representative of FFI from our past participants, the Eileen D. Foley Fellow. They will embody the spirit and character of Eileen in perpetuity and share their story at the Annual Dinner and Roast in her name.
All donations made in honor of Eileen will be invested with the Friends Forever International endowment held with Bank of New Hampshire. Every $50,000 establishes a named permanent scholarship. These scholarships, fully funded through the annual returns of the Endowment, support promising new participants or our distinguished alumni in their journey with FFI.
If you would like to join us in honoring Eileen, please send in your support to:
Friends Forever International
1 Morgan Way
Durham, NH 03824
Memo: Eileen Dondero Foley Fund
Or complete this form and select Eileen Dondero Foley Fund in the appropriate spot.
Sponsorship Levels
RSVP by October 1st
NOTE: Individual tickets go on sale September 6th. Please wait until then to purchase rather than making a donation. Thank you!
Individual Sponsor
$500 (On Sale September 6th)
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1 seat
Supporting Sponsor
$1,000 (On Sale September 6th)
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2 seats
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Recognition on event poster
Sustaining Sponsor
$3,000 (On Sale September 6th)
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4 seats
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1/3-page ad in event program
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Recognition on event poster
Leading Sponsor
$5,000
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8 seats (1 full table)
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1/2-page ad in event program
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Recognition on event poster
Presenting Sponsor
$10,000
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10 seats in prime location (1 full table)
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1 full-page ad in event program
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Recognition on event poster
Diamond Sponsor
$25,000
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10 seats in prime location (1 full table)
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Marquee acknowledgment
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1 full-page ad in event program
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Recognition on event poster
Program Ad Sponsor
$1,000-$2,000
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$2,000 - 1 full-page ad in event program
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$1,000 - 1/2-page ad in event program
FFI 40th Anniversary Impact Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
$50,000
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10 seats in prime location (1 full table)
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Marquee acknowledgment
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2 full-page ads in event program
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Recognition in all press releases, event materials
Legacy Sponsor
$100,000
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10 VIP Seats (1 full table)
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Fund established in honorees' names in FFI Endowment
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Marquee Acknowledgement
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2 full-page ads in event program
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Recognition in all press releases and event materials
For additional information, please contact Amelia at amelia@ff.international
or give us a call at 603.397.5301.