Berthoud Weekly Surveyor | Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot

A daughter remembered, a community served

By: Sue Arnott | The Surveyor | December 09, 2021 | Local News

Courtesy photo – Ashley Doolittle

Ashley Doolittle loved horses, western life, 4-H and Future Farmers of America. She’d been accepted to and was excited about entering CSU’s Agricultural Business program. But in June of 2016, three weeks after graduating from Berthoud High School, she was killed by a former boyfriend. The story claimed national attention and rocked the Berthoud community. “A tragedy for two families,” Ashley’s mother Ann Marie Doolittle said. Compassionate words from a woman who has taken the roughest of roads. To become better, not bitter. Nine months after losing her daughter, she, along with friends, family and the community, held western-themed fundraisers to preserve Ashley’s legacy through establishing scholarships and addressing the issue of teen dating violence—another pandemic of sorts affecting 1.5 million of our nation’s high school students annually. Early efforts soon formalized. The Ashley Doolittle Foundation, a local nonprofit organization, was born.

The first step: raising awareness. Stacks of informational packets describing danger signs and helpful resources fill Ann Marie’s office.  “Parents think they know their children. I had no idea,” she said. “Until Ashley, I’d never heard of dating violence. I was more concerned with drinking and a car accident.” But the more she learned, the more she realized this was not just a teen issue. It was a community issue.

While researching online, she connected with a fellow grieving parent, Malcolm Astley, whose daughter’s story was featured on 48 Hours. “He was telling Ashley’s story,” Ann Marie said. Malcolm led her to One Love, a national organization devoted to teaching youth about relationship abuse. “They start at the elementary level and train volunteers to be facilitators,” she explained. They trained her.

“It’s not just the abused we’re talking about. We know the signs of a potential abuser. We can address this early. As One Love says, ‘we are learning to love better.’ We believe if parents, community and friends knew the signs, Ashley would be alive.”

Before Covid, Ann Marie addressed ninth-grade health classes, but this wasn’t enough. “To be truly impactful, we need after-school events so parents, grandparents and administrators can attend along with students.” At Boulder TEC, she ran a trial workshop to get feedback. One student approached afterward and said it was the best teaching she’d ever had on this topic. Community events with free pizza and t-shirts at Grace Place followed. She is eager to resume these workshops.

“Teens need to talk, and adults need to listen. Sit and really listen. But kids are going to talk to their peers first.” Berthoud High School now has student peer counselors who receive training from Ann Marie.

The Ashley Doolittle Foundation has an all-volunteer staff. Donations will help with facility rentals and printing costs. A portion of funds goes towards two scholarships in Ashley’s name. The Thompson FFA scholarship goes to two recipients—one from Berthoud HS, the other from Thompson Valley. The second scholarship is through the Boulder County 4-H Horse Program.

“Honestly, I’d rather see you come to a workshop than donate money,” said Ann Marie. Still… a little holiday help will keep Ashley’s memory alive and may help save a child.

Go to www.ashleydoolittlefoundation.org to learn more and donate.

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