Ashland Youth Advisory Council

In 1987, Ben Montenegro, Department of Public Safety Director, and Rick Ghilani, a town Selectman ( now deceased ), placed a wishing well at the Sunnyside Cafe to collect money on behalf of Ashland townsfolk in need. When they had collected about $150 in change, they brought it to Isabel Harrison, the Town's Youth Advisory Director and de-facto Social Services Officer. It took Isabel about ten seconds to thank them and another twenty minutes to point out that the $150, while very welcome, was just a drop in the bucket when compared to the realistic need that could be found in Ashland at the time. With Isabel's lecture in mind, Ben, John Ellsworth, and five other concerned citizens founded the Ashland Emergency Fund. In the 20 years since, the fund has collected and disbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Ashland citizens in need. The AEF is an IRS-recognized, tax deductible charity whose sole mission is to provide temporary, emergency financial support to Ashland families and citizens.