The Robert J. Ashley, IV Memorial Foundation has awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships.
Robert J. Ashley IV, affectionately known as Robbie, was involved in a fatal car accident shortly after his 2007 graduation from Cinnaminson High School. He was on his way home from Monmouth University where he was attending a summer scholarship program, set to start full-time in the fall as a journalism major. A varsity soccer goalie, Robbie was striving toward playing for his college soccer team.
The nonprofit Robert J. Ashley, IV Memorial Foundation was founded in 2010 by Robbie’s family to honor him while serving the community and offering assistance to individuals and families facing difficult times.
The foundation donates thousands of dollars every year to Cinnaminson High School senior scholarships. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships to students and athletes who played soccer or were involved in the high school student newspaper — two of Robbie’s passions. Funds raised also aim to relieve local hardships, such as debilitating injuries, high medical bills or the death of a family member. Last year, graduating CHS seniors Michael Zelinka and Patrick McCarthy received scholarships from the foundation.
“My brother was a one-of-a-kind kid,” said Robbie’s sister, Melissa Bowen, a 2005 Cinnaminson graduate who serves as the treasurer of the foundation. “He was passionate about music and writing and soccer.”
The foundation held its seventh annual casino night fundraiser earlier this month at the Sacred Heart Church in Riverton to celebrate Robbie’s birthday
“It’s just a great way to ensure that we get to see all of his friends and still get to talk to them and about Robbie every year,” Bowen said.
More than 100 people came to play poker, win gift baskets and support the cause. Various businesses and individuals donated baskets to be raffled off, which Bowen says is what makes the event such a huge success.
The foundation also holds an annual restaurant fundraiser on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which Bowen says has been very successful and is always a fun night out. The foundation asks a restaurant to donate a portion of sales for one night, and the fundraiser serves as an opportunity for Robbie’s friends and family to gather and remember all of the things they loved about him.
“When he passed, our biggest concern was ensuring that Robbie’s friends stayed connected to us, so we started doing a fundraiser the night before Thanksgiving, at a restaurant, just to get everyone together so we could talk about Robbie,” Bowen said. “Since many of his friends went away to college, it was a nice way to connect when everyone came home.”
The foundation has also sold apparel and coozies to raise money.
Robbie’s family has been dedicated to keeping his memory alive and turning a tragedy into something positive. Robbie would have been 28 years old on June 6, and July will mark 10 years since his death.
To learn more about the foundation or to find upcoming events, search “The Robert J Ashley IV Memorial Foundation” on Facebook.
