Evan Ashcraft Memorial Fund

Army Sgt. Evan Asa Ashcraft , 24, an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division, was one of three soldiers killed in Iraq on July 24, 2003 when the convoy in which he was traveling was attacked by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. Ashcraft’s Division was the first to enter Iraq.

For his exemplary military service and the valor he exhibited in rescuing two soldiers from a disabled vehicle in April, Ashcraft was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star medals. Ashcraft was buried with full military honors in Chatsworth, California, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003.

While his country will remember him as a hero, his family remembers him as a man of exceptional character. He was an accomplished student and musician, and aspired to complete his college education upon completing his military career.

While in Iraq, Evan said in letters and phone calls home during his deployment, “I’ve seen some terrible things. When I get home, I just want to help people.” The Evan Ashcraft Memorial Fund was created in order to fulfill Evan’s wishes.

The mission of the Evan Ashcraft Memorial Fund in its founding is to distribute medical and educational funds for United States military personnel living or deceased who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or for their dependents. Recent events have focused this mission to providing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling.

Studies have shown that a significant per cent of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD. One study determined this to exceed 33% of all returning vets. The result of this disorder contributes to an increased level of homelessness, alcoholism, substance abuse, family disengagement and unemployment. These consequences bring increased suffering of veterans, their families and friends as well as a growing economic impact on our economy. Unfortunately, government resources are unable to keep up with the growing population of vets needing assistance. This resource shortfall is projected to continue for this decade.

Due to the growing problem of veteran support, the Fund provides support to non-governmental agencies for effective counseling to these men and women and their families who are affected by this insidious ailment.

To make a secure, tax-deductible donation online, click on the button below. You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Evan Ashcraft Memorial Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

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Contributions to the California Community Foundation represent irrevocable gifts subject to the legal and fiduciary control of the foundation’s board of directors. This charge will appear on your credit card statement as a payment to “Calif Comm Fdn – CCF”. In addition, California Community Foundation incurs a third-party administrative fee of 2.7 percent for credit card contributions. The foundation will charge the fee directly to the individual fund.