An always on-the-go real estate professional and single mother of three, Ashley had just joined Keller Williams in the Peoria, Illinois Market Center, when suddenly her world stopped. 

Without warning, her oldest son, Gavin, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, just before his 8th-grade graduation. As a result, the family faced multiple hardships, including Gavin’s grueling chemotherapy, the emotional toll on his siblings, and the financial burden Ashley was grappling with as a single parent.

A brand-new KW employee, Ashley received a call from her team lead, Mike McKinley, who had learned of Ashley’s plight from others in the market center. He asked her to attend the next team meeting and share her son’s story. There was not a dry eye in the house, and thousands of dollars were raised for Gavin within minutes. After the meeting, Mike connected Ashley to the staff at KW Cares, and they began the grant application process.

Soon, good news would arrive in waves. “I was at home surrounded by the kids when we got word about our grant,” Ashley says. “I was very communicative with them about what was happening, and they were all very involved in the whole process. So it was a really amazing experience.” Less than 30 days later, Gavin received a clear pathology report, and soon had his chemo port removed. Ashley lights up when saying Gavin is on the mend, ready to take Driver’s Ed, with “lots of cool things on the horizon for him.”

How KW Cares Helped:

Ashley describes the KW Cares grant The Robertsons received in 2020 as, “incredibly helpful.” The additional donations received directly from her market center helped Ashley and her three children pull through Gavin’s illness and recovery, stronger and closer than ever.

“They made our struggles and our life part of what THEY do. It was something that I never would’ve expected. There are not enough thank-yous for that.” – Ashley Robertson