The Kitchell Family created an endowment to honor the legacy of Coach Dave Kitchell.
A new endowment fund was established with a $50,000 gift made to Ashland Community Health Foundation (ACHF) from the Kitchell family and their closest friends, and will help alleviate barriers to participation in sports for student athletes in Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix.
The Dave Kitchell Endowment will support youth sports programs in Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix, and carry on his legacy and mantra, ‘we love and care for each other.’
Dave Kitchell was a beloved coach and teacher at the Ashland School District for over two decades, until his passing in 2007. His family recalls that even while undergoing treatment, he made showing up for students a priority.
His son, Brian Kitchell, shared that the family had been looking for a way to honor his impact on the community, and was pleased to learn that they could create something permanent and meaningful at ACHF.
“Our family received an incredible amount of support and encouragement from the community during his illness, and it was then that I began to understand the footprint of my dad’s life,” says Brian. “It became clear the impact he had on so many people in our town and beyond.”
The family’s mission is to keep Coach Kitchell’s spirit alive through this endowment, and offer the possibility for kids today to experience what Dave Kitchell created for so many. This wish complements ACHF’s commitment to enhancing the health of our community by advancing innovative and equitable approaches to health and wellness.
The endowment will benefit sports-related opportunities including scholarships, the purchase of equipment and uniforms, training for coaches, costs related to travel to competitions, and more. While the Kitchell Family has established this fund, they welcome anyone in the community who shares a passion for the fund’s purpose or wants to honor Dave to contribute.
“My dad had an innate ability to connect with and motivate students,” shares Brian Kitchell. “He genuinely cared for and helped others and was well known for his mantra, ‘we love and care for each other,’ a phrase that perfectly sums up the intense passion and care he had for those around him.”
