Ashland Emergency Fund

Quietly providing hope to those in need.

Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return.

-- Emmanuel Swedenborg

Since 1987 the AEF has:

Ashland Emergency Fund

How it all Began .....

In 1987, Ben Montenegro, Department of Public Safety Director, and Rick Ghilani, a town Selectman (now deceased), placed a wishing well at the Sunnyside Café to collect money on behalf of Ashland townsfolk in need. When they had collected about $150 in change, they brought it to Isabel Harrison, the Town’s Youth Advisory Director and de-facto Social Services Officer.

It took Isabel about ten seconds to thank them and another twenty minutes to point out that the $150, while very welcome, was just a drop in the bucket when compared to the realistic need that could be found in Ashland at the time.

With Isabel's lecture in mind, Ben, John Ellsworth, and five other concerned citizens founded the Ashland Emergency Fund. In the 20 years since, the fund has collected and disbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Ashland citizens in need.

What has The AEF Become?

The AEF is an IRS-recognized, tax deductible charity whose sole mission is to provide temporary, emergency financial support to Ashland families and citizens.

Who qualifies for Assistance?

Any Ashland resident can qualify. Those receiving assistance are our neighbors and friends.

AEF Cash Flow

Donations received, revenue earned from bingo, and assistance given out by the AEF have all steadily risen over the years. The AEF currently has a healthy bank balance, but changes in the law have affected the amount of revenue we can expect to receive from bingo events. Without an increase in income, the AEF will not be able to enjoy the quantity of giving it has provided in previous years.

Giving Program Scope

In 2000, the AEF Board of Directors decided to expand the scope of the giving program. Revenue from the very successful Friday Night Bingo has increased steadily since the bingo event was established ten years ago. Those increases in income directly resulted in more aggressive giving programs and assistance rendered rose steadily over time from a base level in the mid-1990’s of about $25,000 to $65,000 through 2004.

In 2004, changes to the No Smoking laws caused a dramatic reduction in receipts from the AEF Bingo and AEF Giving Programs fell below $40,000 (with nothing received from the Bingo) and are only just now recovering slowly from that revenue loss through other program sources and a slow return to health (moderate) of the Bingo.