Brother reflects on Ashley Crouse's IUDM legacy

For IU alumnus Casey Crouse, the IU Dance Marathon is more than 36 hours in which college students dance and make the kids at Riley Hospital for Children the center of attention.

For him, it’s a time of remembrance.

Crouse’s sister, Ashley Louise Crouse, died after the car she was in was hit by a drunk driver in April 2005 after an IUDM meeting.

At the time, Ashley was the IUDM vice president of communications.
 
Ashley loved everything about IUDM, Crouse said.

“She loved the fact that it gave her and countless others an opportunity to give back to the community,” Crouse  said. “There’s nothing more that she loved than knowing she was giving her all to help save kids at Riley.”

Each year in April, there is a local walk celebrating the lives of Ryan White and Ashley, who are remembered at the dance marathon.

White, a teenager from Kokomo, Ind., became nationally known for his fight against AIDS, even after his death in 1990.

Each IUDM shirt has White and Ashley’s initials as well as “FTK,” which stands for “for the kids.”

Ashley’s influence on IUDM is long lasting, Crouse said.

“Even though she left us, she has had an incredible impact on dance marathon since then,” Crouse said.

For Crouse, IUDM has become a lifetime event, for which he credits Ashley.
“I pretty much made the decision that I was going to give everything I had to this organization,” Crouse said.

In 2009, Crouse was the president of IUDM.

“When I was president in 2009, by that time, she hadn’t been with us for four years, and dance marathon had already doubled it in size,” he said. “Anyone that goes into dance marathon that learns about Ashley wants to embody everything she stood for — her attitude, her spirit, her drive to do everything she possibly can for the
organization and help Riley.”

Ben Cohen, dance marathon coordinator for Riley’s Children Foundation, said IUDM has continued to involve Ashley’s legacy.

“She was so passionate about IUDM,” Cohen said.

Crouse said Ashley had a dream to start a dance marathon at her alma mater, Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind.

Ashley was never able to do so herself.

“Myself and a couple of other students decided to start a dance marathon at Carmel,” Casey said.

Casey said the dance marathon at Carmel has grown to the largest high school dance marathon in the country.

The most recent marathon raised more than $260,000.

Ashley also affected her sisters in Kappa Kappa Gamma.

“She does so many amazing things in such a little time,” sophomore Alison Bulkley said. “We are inspired by her actions not only in Kappa but also in the IUDM.”

Laurel Crutchfield  was given the Ashley Louise Crouse Award this year.

The IUDM executive council said the award was given to an individual who exemplified Ashley’s spirit. 

IU alumnus Chris Holland, Crouse’s roommate, was the director of entertainment for IUDM in 2009.

“He’s probably the most driven person I’ve ever met in my life,” Holland said.

Holland said Casey is able to see the effect the organization has on others.

“I think Crouse has a lot of personal connections with dance marathon, but he’s someone who’s able to see the bigger picture and the impact the organization can have on everyone involved,” Holland said.

As soon as the grand total, $2,125,322.20, was announced, Crouse said he was overwhelmed with happiness.

“My initial reaction was pure joy,” Crouse said. “This reflects the growth that is happening within the organization.”

Crouse said he would be pretty successful if he becomes only half the person his sister was.

“I tell myself ‘go out and live every day to the fullest, like your sister did,’” Crouse said.
Crouse said he and his family continue to help with IUDM because he knows that is what Ashley would have wanted them to do.

“I graduated, and my dance marathon career will never end,” Crouse said. “She would have done that, and that’s what we do as a family.”