Dartmouth Boy’s Lemonade Stand Raises $1,600 for Animal Shelter Proving Small Sips Make a Big Impact

An 11-year-old Dartmouth boy, Ashton, has once again proven that no one is too young to make a significant impact on their community. Ashton, along with his sisters Allie and Ashlie Jiggens, successfully raised $1,600 for the Fairhaven Animal Shelter through a combination of a lemonade stand and raffle ticket sales.

The Fairhaven Animal Control and Shelter praised Ashton and his friends on their social media, saying:

"Once again our friend Ashton worked his tail off (pun intended) for our animals. This time he joined forces with Allie and Ashlie to not only sell lemonade but sell tickets for a raffle to raise money for our shelter. This year's total? $1600!!! We told Ashton a few years ago that we were going to make him famous so let's continue on with that tradition. Please join us to say THANK YOU to these three Angels. Our community is the best around! You three ROCK! Your parents did a great job.”

For the past eight years, the Galligo/Jiggens family has hosted an epic private party for family and friends, where Ashton’s lemonade stand and a raffle table have become the main attractions (for the past six years). Starting at just five years old, Ashton began his journey, raising $107 in his first year. This amount has steadily grown each year, with last year’s total reaching $1,000. The inclusion of raffle baskets in the past three years has significantly boosted their fundraising efforts.

Ashlie and Allie play a crucial role in the success of the fundraiser, tirelessly selling raffle tickets and engaging attendees. This year’s event featured a variety of attractions, including games, prizes, entertainment, a DJ who has selflessly given back to the family, special guests such as Santa and the Grinch, and even characters Elsa and Anna, making it bigger and better than ever.

“We’ve gotten a lot of people to adopt, and it feels really good," said Ashton’s mother, Tammy Galligo. The family’s close bond with Terry Cripps, the Fairhaven Animal Control Officer, has only strengthened over the years. They have adopted three animals from the shelter, further deepening their commitment to the cause.

Ashton’s dedication to the animal shelter is unwavering. When asked which cause he wanted to support, he immediately chose the shelter. His hard work and community spirit were recognized in April 2024 when he was awarded the Fairhaven Improvement Award for his contributions.

Reflecting on Ashton’s journey, his mother expressed her pride and joy. “As a mother, I wanted to teach Ashton about giving back, and he’s made me beyond proud,” she said emotionally. “It truly is the best day of the year; I look forward to it more than Christmas.”

This year’s party saw about 140 attendees, all coming together to support Ashton’s mission and the Fairhaven Animal Shelter. Thanks to the generosity of the community and the dedication of Ashton and his friends, many more animals will receive the care and support they need.