The Forman Acton Foundation was funded by and named after Dr. Forman S. Acton, a pioneering computer scientist, engineer, professor, and author who was born in Salem, traveled the world, and returned here to live until he passed away in February 2014. Many of the trustees in the foundation were friends of Forman who worked side by side with him to craft a vision for this foundation and to create a plan for how it would be successful.

Forman strongly believed that educational excellence formed the basis for his personal and professional accomplishments, and his wish was to create those same opportunities for young people from his hometown. Today, the Foundation provides financial assistance that aids educational goals in a number of ways, ranging from scholarships and savings accounts that help students pay for college, to prep classes at neighboring universities and learning opportunities in international settings.