Thursday, April 23, 2015

Meet Foundation Executive Director Ashley Allman


Foundation Executive Director Ashley Allman has a special place in her heart for Westminster-Canterbury. As a child, she spent her weekends on campus with her grandmother, attending events and visiting with friends and family. Today, she spends time at WC in her career, and she has the opportunity to directly enhance the lives of others who live and visit here. Since 2013, she has worked to bring joy to the lives of all those who come in contact with Westminster-Canterbury through the support provided by the Foundation to residents, staff and friends of the community. “We really are a unique community,” says Allman. “The Foundation allows us to provide support and peace of mind to our residents and staff.”

Each year, Allman orchestrates three major events to support those who benefit from the Foundation. The most well-known is the “Bringing Joy to Life” Dinner, second is the Annual Golf Classic, and the newest is the celebrity chef dinner, which was held for the first time last fall.

“Bringing Joy to Life” is an opportunity for the Foundation to thank contributors for their support over the year. The celebration dinner is also a time to reflect on the past year, and allows donors to see the impact of their generosity on the community.

“My favorite part of the night is listening to staff members who have benefited from the fund tell their stories,” says Allman. “We hear from employees who have received scholarships to further their education, and those who have other unmet needs, who have benefited from the Employee Emergency Fund.”

One of many examples from this year’s dinner came from an employee named Gwen. She explained how the fund allowed her to make repairs to her car, when she was unable to come up with the financing. She was so grateful and appreciative and thanked attendees of the event saying, “Not only did this help me, but aided my son, who relies on me for transportation to school and athletic practice each day.” This small gift from Foundation donors changed the life of an employee and her family.

“Stories like Gwen’s make donor gifts tangible and really help drive home the mission,” says Ashley. “It allows you to put a name and face with the cause and creates a very personal connection.”

Most recently, the Foundation hosted the celebrity chef dinner and demonstration featuring Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani. Coming up next is the Westminster-Canterbury Foundation’s 12th Annual Golf Classic at Bayville Golf Club. The tournament will be held on Tuesday, May 12th at Noon and the “19th Hole" Reception will be held back at Westminster-Canterbury immediately following the tournament. For more information, please call Ashley at (757) 496-1106 or email Ashley.Allman@wcbay.com.

The WC Foundation became it’s own 501(c)3 in 1992, and serves to maintain and enhance the lives of residents, employees and the surrounding community.  

“You truly can’t put a price tag on the peace of mind the Foundation provides to our staff and residents,” says Allman. “That security, along with being good stewards of the dollars invested in our Foundation are what sets us apart from other communities.”

For more information about Westminster-Canterbury and the Foundation visit http://www.wcbay.com/the-westminster-canterbury-foundation.