Ashley Kertes memorial fund aims to help Greensburg area as she tried to do

Ashley Kertes had a love for the Greensburg community and a desire to make it better.

Kertes served as executive director of the Greensburg Community Development Corp. and, in March 2022, shifted to associate administrator to the superintendent and community outreach in the Greensburg Salem School District.

After Kertes’ unexpected death at 36 last spring, sibling Christina Gongaware knew she wanted to do something to capture her sister’s memory.

Gongaware partnered with Greensburg Salem to create the Ashley Gongaware Kertes Fund, which will host its first fundraiser Thursday night at the Palace Theatre.

“Many people lose people close to them and people they care about,” Gongaware said, “and I think it’s a beautiful thing to use that love that you had for that person to make things better for the community.”

The donations — collected through the Greensburg Salem Education Fund — will support the district’s after-school programs, Gongaware said.

“Really, it’s to bring the community together,” said Gongaware, of Greensburg. “Ashley, since she began her career … she cared a lot about Greensburg and making it better and improving the lives of students.”

After-school program funding has been difficult to come by at Greensburg Salem, Superintendent Ken Bissell said.

“In the past, the district had to make the difficult decision to eliminate several after-school programs due to budget constraints,” Bissel said via email. “We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Gongaware and Kertes families and their support in enriching our children’s lives.”

The district facilitates after-school math and reading programs for middle school students, and Salem Township Gymnastics hosts a program at the district’s Metzgar Elementary School in Salem, he said.

Some elementary students partake in after-school programs at the Greensburg YMCA — a partnership started by Kertes — and Charter Oak Church, but these programs are not funded by the district, Bissell said.

Kertes secured a $150,000 grant for an outdoor classroom at the high school. Construction of a pavilion and planning for a pond renovation, landscaping and outdoor furniture will begin this summer.

Although she worked in the district for less than a year, Kertes built lasting relationships in the community, Bissell said.

“Ashley was professional, kind and caring in every interaction with anyone in our community,” he said.

The Summer Solstice Soirée fundraiser — which will feature live music and auctions — is meant to bring the community together in celebration of Kertes’ life, Gongaware said.

“I want people to take away that each individual can make a difference in their community,” Gongaware said. “Ashley spent years working with local businesses and the schools just to make things brighter for everyone, and anyone who comes to the event can do the same thing.”

Kertes helped keep Greensburg businesses alive during the covid pandemic and revitalized the city’s banner program honoring veterans, said her husband, Westmoreland County Commissioner Sean Kertes.

Even in her short time at Greensburg Salem, Kertes secured grant funding for district projects.

“She really wanted to help the students out that needed help,” Kertes said. “She never wanted to single anyone out, but she wanted to provide assistance to those that needed it the most.”

The goal is to keep the Ashley Gongaware Kertes Fund up and running for years to come, pivoting to support whatever needs arise in the school district, Kertes said.

“Ashley always had a love for anyone that was in need,” he said, “and this falls right in line with what she believed in — that if someone needs help, you should help them.”