Meet Ashley
Ashley Marie Easterbrook was a young woman who spent her short life in service to others. She was curious, warm, and driven, the kind of person who did not wait to be asked before stepping up to help.
Growing up, Ashley moved frequently as her family relocated for her father's career. By the time she reached high school in Troy, Michigan, she had lived in twelve different places. Rather than letting that unsettle her, she used it. She knew how to walk into a new situation and make it her own.
At Troy High School, Ashley threw herself into everything available to her. She was a member of the National Honor Society and served as captain of the gymnastics team. In her sophomore year she became a certified lifeguard, and during her time in that role she saved three lives. That achievement meant a great deal to her. Knowing she had made a difference for real people in real moments shaped how she thought about her future.
Ashley's commitment to others
Her commitment to others extended well beyond school. She organized a fundraising benefit for residents of a local battered women's shelter. She helped coordinate Special Olympics events in her community. She founded a tutoring program for bilingual students, identifying a gap and building something to fill it. These were not resume items to Ashley. They were simply what she felt called to do.
She had been accepted to the University of Michigan School of Nursing as part of the class of 2001. She intended to spend her life in a profession centered on caring for people.
"A deadly decision"
On the evening of June 2, 1997, five days before her high school graduation, Ashley went out with two friends, Michael Jamieson and Andy Stindt. They were heading home after getting coffee in Royal Oak. She had a curfew of 12:30 a.m. and had never missed it. Her parents had no reason to worry.
At the intersection of Crooks and Long Lake in Troy, a drunk driver ran a red light at high speed and struck the car Ashley and her friends were riding in. All three were killed. The driver's blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.
Ashley was 18 years old. She was five days from graduating. She had her whole future mapped out, and she had already spent years making good on the promise of it.
After her death, her family found diaries she had kept privately. In one entry, she had written about drunk driving, saying it frightened her deeply, and asked God to make sure her parents knew she loved them even when she did not always show it.
Keeping Ashley's Dream alive and well
The Foundation for Ashley's Dream was created to honor her life and to make sure her story continues to do what Ashley herself always tried to do: make things better for others. To learn more about what drives our work, check out Our Mission here. If you want to bring this message to your school or community, see our information about speaking events. For the latest from the foundation, visit our news page.
If Ashley's story moves you to act, we invite you to make a donation. Every effort made in her name keeps her legacy alive.
