Ashland Emergency Fund

Quietly providing hope to those in need.

Since 1987 the AEF has been Ashland’s behind-the-scenes, private place to which those in need have been able to turn for help.

2006 Annual Report

February 11, 2007

Ashland Emergency Fund - Annual Report: FY2006

PDF Version - MS Word Version

The Ashland Emergency Fund (AEF) has corrected its financial problems of the last two years. The AEF finished FY2006 with a small positive operating balance. Even though $60,000 in reserves has been used over the past two years, the AEF balance remains strong. The AEF was able to recover through decreased giving and increased receipts.

The AEF has historically had two primary sources of funding:

1. giving by Ashland and other citizens
   (year 2006 = $30,678.87);
2. proceeds from the AEF/Campership Bingo
   (year 2006 = $9,000.00).

Giving by citizens remains strong and proceeds from the Bingo are recovering. The impact of 2004’s No-Smoking Law was severe but a new base of Bingo players is emerging. Happily for the AEF/Campership Bingo and unhappily for other bingos, we are getting attendees from bingos which have closed.

In 2001, the AEF made a decision to become aggressive in its support of Ashland citizens in need. We were forced to back away from that decision in 2004 because of seriously reduced Bingo receipts. This year’s expenditures of nearly $40,000 to aid Ashland citizens, while balanced by revenue, also is a drop in giving of about $25,000. That bad news is tempered by the fact that there was no loss in 2006, as there was for the past two years. It is a turn around, not a huge one, but a turn around nonetheless and it augurs well for the future.

As the year progresses, the AEF will continue to operate on two fronts:

1. to increase fundraising activities and to grow its organization;
2. to support the AEF/Campership bingo as it recovers.

Our objective is to achieve a revenue flow of $75,000 to $80,000 needed to match giving objectives established by the Board in 2001.

If you have questions about the AEF, if you would like to become involved, if you have ideas on raising money, please contact any member of the AEF, or the AEF Chairman by writing to PO Box 112, Ashland or calling John at 508-881-3404 (office and cell).

If you want to donate to a worthy cause, send it the Ashland Emergency Fund, PO Box 112, Ashland, MA 01721 or go online at www.ashlandemergencyfund.com. We are a tax exempt corporation (#22-2959481) and your gift is tax deductible.

For the Board of Directors,
John Ellsworth
Chair – AEF

Board of Directors

John Ellsworth, Chair
Dale Domings, Secr’y
James Hickey, Treas’r

Members

Ben Montenegro
Doris Overturf
Chris Papadellis
Isabel Harrison
Shirley Morrisette
Jim Hanna
Peter Klay
Ro Fedorchak
Eric Hamilton
Nadine Heaps
Teri Wysor
Sue Gauvin, Ex-Off