Charity Spotlight: The Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation

Written by Shae Rufe

While 2020 saw a lot of change for a lot of people, it hit me more personally in the most unexpected way. To say this blog will probably be the most personal one I have ever written is a bit of an understatement, but this is something so near and dear to my heart that I had to share it. 

Amid a raging Pandemic, my family got some news that has changed our lives forever and for the better. There are so many stories out there of DNA tests affecting families’ lives and uncovering family secrets, well, I had made enough jokes about those tests that my sister finally got me one. And then slowly my whole family got them. My dad and I did ours at the same time, so our results came in first. That’s when we discovered that I was, in fact, 16.9% Sicilian... and that I had another sister. There is no scandal to be had however, like one might expect when they find a long-lost sibling they didn’t know about. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and mine is no different. Many may not know this, but I am actually adopted by my dad. My Parents married when I was 7. As it turns out, before they tied the knot, my dad inadvertently had my sister without his knowing. Her name is Ashton, and she was also adopted, by both of her parents. This story takes a very sad turn, though. 

Unfortunately, shortly after finding out about her, we also found out the most tragic news. Ashton had passed away in a car accident in 2016.

The truth is, the excitement of having another sister hadn’t even had a chance to fully settle down before that crushing news. That is what makes this blog so hard to write today, and yet there is another reason I am sharing this with everyone. Ashton was a wonderful person, and she went above and beyond to share that with the world. She worked in animal shelters, helped turn around adoption rates, and above all believed in bettering the community. Ashton had a deep love of helping and a bright eye for learning. 

She learned to combine the two and started helping her community by volunteering for a non-profit that helped struggling women. Ashton found a new love and purpose in doing so. She saw the impact of helping other women. She was a lifeline for women coming out of recovery, women who were hit hard by life, women who just needed someone to believe in them. At the end of the day, Ashton realized that life was so much better when we banded together and supported one another. The belief that education is the key to solving the world’s problems is something Ashton and I both share and something I strive for. Ashton wanted to help make education as obtainable as possible, for everyone.

In her passing, Ashton left behind a legacy that is going strong today. Her parents started the Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation in her honor. The Foundation itself works to help struggling women break the socioeconomic hurdle they face by providing funds for classes, testing, vocational education, training, work assistance, and so much more. The Foundation hopes to expand its scholarships to children in difficult economic situations so that they may pursue their dreams without financial worry, soon. Ashton’s dream of helping people has not stopped and only keeps growing. We have so much in common and so much of the same life experiences, it both breaks and warms my heart to know more about her. While Ashton is no longer here, she has left behind the inspirational drive that could change generations to come. Ashton’s strong convictions about helping the community are something that should be shared. We cannot lose our humanity and turn our backs on each other, just because we have different opportunities. If we can learn anything from Ashton, it’s that we all deserve a chance to chase our dreams and that we should love one another and support one another, and together we can make for a brighter tomorrow.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit AshtonHopeKeeganFoundation.org.

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