How One Supporter Made a Huge Difference

By Barbara Motter

I first learned of Ashley through the 2004 Washington Post article, and her story touched my heart.  I spoke with Pam Jones, Ashley’s mentor and was inspired by Pam’s belief in Ashley and by Pam’s commitment to Ashley’s future.  Being firm believers in the importance of education, my husband and I decided to support Ashley in her endeavor to complete her college degree.

After meeting Ashley in 2005, I knew with certainty that she was a special young woman capable of great things.  I believe that God has “wired” us to love one another and to help those in need, and helping Ashley is easy, because she is working so hard to help herself.  

I shared Ashley’s story with my twin sister, Beverly Owens.  Beverly and I are both grandmothers, so I suppose it is natural of us to think of Ashley as one of our children. In addition, we both married and had children when we were young, so we can sympathize with Ashley’s struggles as a young mother. 

In 2005 Beverly’s employer had a design competition for its fifteen international companies that employs 50,000 people world wide.  The contest was for charity, with each employee encouraged to submit one rock that they painted or decorated.  In return the company committed to donating a large sum of money to international children charities around the world.  Additionally, each of the three winners would personally receive $10,000.

Well, it is a long story, but while the rock decorating was going on, Beverly had Ashley on her mind.  Beverly decided that on the outside chance her rock was selected, that she would donate the proceeds to Ashley.

I’m convinced that God has great plans for Ashley, or how else can you explain that Beverly’s rock was selected as a winner out of thousands of rocks, 33,687 to be exact!  Rocks from all over the world were shipped to Germany, and somehow Beverly’s rock rose to the top of the pile.  Talk about Divine Intervention!

Beverly donated her $10,000 winnings to Ashley’s fund at the Mazique Center.  What makes this an extraordinary contribution is that Beverly works two jobs to make ends meet, so she could have easily used these funds for herself and her family.  It speaks volumes not only of her generosity, but also of our belief in Ashley.   We feel by financially supporting Ashley’s pursuit of her college degree that we are indeed helping to change her life and that of her daughter, Dashayla.