The ASH Foundation empowers individuals with special needs and their families through inclusive community events and resources — building hope, resilience, and connection.
Why ASH Exists
The ASH Foundation was not created in a single moment. It grew over time—shaped by love, loss, creativity, and years of showing up for one another. At its core, ASH is a continuation of love and a calling that emerged gradually, rooted in family and guided by a quiet belief that even in the hardest circumstances, something meaningful can be built.
ASH stands for Angel Sisters Hope, honoring two sisters whose lives continue to influence how their family loves, serves, and supports others. What began as deeply personal has grown into a foundation grounded in hope, inspired responsibility, and quiet purpose.
Ashlee: The Heart Behind the Work
Ashlee was joy, resilience, and light wrapped into one unforgettable human. Though nonverbal and in a wheelchair due to Rett syndrome, she filled every space with laughter, sweetness, and just enough sass and mischief to keep everyone grounded. She was deeply loved—and she knew it.
That love was modeled first through the extraordinary care and devotion of her parents, Clay and Bonnie, whose relationship with Ashlee showed what unwavering presence, sacrifice, and tenderness truly look like. That care extended outward through siblings, bonus parents, extended family, and the many relationships that surrounded her. ASH exists because of that example.
One of the ways connection with Ashlee took shape was through Halloween. It was her favorite time of year. Creating wheelchair-inclusive costumes became a way to celebrate who she was and make her feel seen. Over time, those costumes grew into a shared family tradition, shaped by multiple generations and multiple families showing up with creativity, time, and love.
From Family Tradition to Shared Celebration
As the costumes grew, so did awareness. It became clear that many individuals at Ashlee’s day program didn’t have costumes or meaningful ways to celebrate Halloween. That realization led to a simple question: Why not do this for everyone?
What followed was not a sudden shift, but a natural evolution. What had always been done for one was extended to many—one costume became many, and a family tradition became a community celebration.
Ashlee passed away the same year the first larger celebration took place. Though she never attended the event herself, her spirit is woven into everything that followed. The tradition continues in her honor, grounded in the same joy, creativity, and inclusion that defined her life.
Long before Ashlee, the family was shaped by loss.
Amber passed away in early childhood, years before Ashlee was born. Though her life was brief, her presence left a lasting imprint—shaping how love is expressed, how grief is carried, and how hope continues alongside hardship. Her influence is quieter and deeply symbolic. Together, Amber and Ashlee represent both the heartbreak and the beauty that can coexist within a family. They are the angels behind ASH.
What This Became
What began as love expressed through care and creativity has grown into consistent action. Today, the annual Halloween event remains the cornerstone of the ASH Foundation, supported by year-round community building that makes the event possible.
Throughout the year, ASH hosts smaller gatherings, builds relationships, and collaborates with individuals, families, volunteers, and partner organizations. These connections create momentum and trust, feeding into the exhausting, exhilarating work of the final celebration each October.
This year marks an important step forward. Alongside the Halloween event, ASH will host its first fundraiser—a mini carnival designed to bring people together in support of the mission. We are also launching our first health-related educational effort, focused on sharing resources, awareness, and support for individuals and families navigating complex needs.
At its core, ASH recognizes that every person carries their own needs and circumstances. The foundation exists to meet people where they are, creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and supported.
Looking Ahead
As the ASH Foundation continues to grow, the focus remains on expanding reach while deepening impact—carefully and with intention. The goal is not to move fast, but to grow in ways that protect the heart of what makes this work meaningful.
We continue this work with care, intention, and gratitude—for the people who walk beside us, and for those whose creativity, compassion, and presence help carry this mission forward.
MISSION STATEMENT
The ASH Foundation empowers individuals with special needs and their families through inclusive community events and resources — building hope, resilience, and connection.
VISION
We envision communities where every person, regardless of ability, challenge, or stage of life, experiences love, dignity, and hope through acts of service and connection.