33 for 33: A Year of Life-Changing Hope
This year would have been Ashton’s 33rd birthday.
Join us in remembering her life — and continuing her legacy — by pledging $33 a month for 12 months to empower women and spark lasting change.
The below “Join the Celebration” button will take you to a donation page, which gives you the option at the top right to Sign up/Sign in. If you don’t have an account, we suggest setting one up, which will enable you to manage and track your donations. Your email address will become your user name, and you will set your password then.
Additional information is available at Donor Account.
Celebrate Hope & Cupcakes
Join us as we remember Ashton and share her spirit of joy. Stop by Smallcakes Athens to try the Signature Ashton Cupcake — chocolate, salted caramel, and a purple heart in her honor.
We had planned to gather in person on January 24 for Ashton’s birthday celebration. However, due to the potential for winter weather and out of an abundance of caution, the in-person event was postponed to keep our community safe.
We are planning to reschedule the celebration for the spring, and a new date will be announced soon.
Help us Light 33 Candles of Hope in Ashton’s Honor
Ashton lived her life with compassion, purpose, and joy. Though her time was short, her impact continues through the programs that carry her name — helping women break the cycle of poverty through education, training, and encouragement.
In honor of what would have been Ashton’s 33rd birthday, we’re inviting our community to celebrate by pledging $33 per month for 12 months. Each monthly gift fuels scholarships, certifications, and support that help women rise — and together, we’ll light 33 candles of hope, one for every year of Ashton’s life.
Every donor represents a spark of change. Our goal is both simple and symbolic:
10 donors: The foundation of hope
20 donors: Stretch goal — expanding Ashton’s impact
33 donors: Super stretch goal — one for each year of Ashton’s life
Together, these gifts sustain the scholarships, certifications, and support programs that empower women to create a brighter, more secure future for themselves and their families.
The World Was Ashton’s Hometown
Ashton grew up in a military family, living in many places and experiencing cultures far beyond one zip code or community. She often laughed and said she did not have a hometown, because the world was her hometown. That global perspective shaped how she loved people, how she recognized need, and how she believed meaningful solutions could reach anywhere.
Ashton understood that compassion is not limited by borders. She believed that caring for others, especially those facing hardship, was a responsibility we all share, no matter where we live. That belief continues to guide the mission that carries her name.
Today, Ashton’s birthday celebration reflects the same worldview she lived by. The 33 for 33 Campaign is not confined to one city, one state, or even one country. Supporters from across the world have come together to honor Ashton, light candles of hope, and help women build stronger, more stable futures.
Each shaded place on this map represents individuals and families who believe, as Ashton did, that opportunity should not depend on circumstance and that real change can happen anywhere. Together, we are proving that Ashton’s legacy is not rooted in a single place, but carried across communities and around the world.
This is what it looks like when a life lived with purpose continues to make a global impact.
These donors have already lit their candles for Ashton. Will you?
Dean & Lisette Clemons
Ed & Kim Keegan
Anonymous
Jim & Brenda Roll
Paul & Anne Suarez
Rich & Linda Crooks
Steve & Meg Sweeney
Gary & Barb Simmerman
John & Susan Clark
Anonymous
Cheryl Osipov
David & Angie Lavine
David & Michelle Yachnin
Frank & Ronnie Keegan
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Dan Matthews
Jack & Leigh Ann Bauerle, & Duke
Chris Steadman, in Memory of Victoria Echols
Brad & Jackie Pyburn
The Hunt Family
Dan Semsel, Col, USAF (ret) & family
Ralf & Sandra Tietge & Family
In Memory of Brian Rufe
Anonymous
Jessica Whitley
Vince & Sarah Howard & Family
Sharon “Nick” Nickelberry
Dr. Karen Baldwin
Stuart & Christi Kirk
Linda Groarke
Anonymous
Amy & Brian Borders
Five Points Psychiatry
Amy Beaucham
Carol & Brian Bailey
Lou & Sue B.
Be One of Ashton’s 33
Each “33 for 33” donor will receive a personalized Certificate of Hope, acknowledging their commitment and celebrating the candle they’ve lit in Ashton’s honor.
Throughout the year, we’ll share updates, success stories, and milestones made possible by your monthly gift.
Together, we’re creating a community of lasting impact — and 33 bright candles of hope.
Join the Birthday Celebration
Your $33 monthly pledge changes lives — and keeps Ashton’s light shining for generations to come.
Whether you give, share, or simply celebrate with us, you’re part of something extraordinary.