On this Giving Tuesday, coinciding with her mother Martha’s birthday, iconic artist Ashley McBryde announced the establishment of her Light On Fund. The initiative is named in reference to McBryde’s song “Light On In The Kitchen,” a musical tapestry inspired by and in honor of her mother and her mother’s two sisters. Ashley McBryde’s Light On Fund exists to support a wide range of causes close to the artist’s heart, embodying a spirit of care and community support.
The fund will focus on areas including advocacy for the mental health of veterans, rehabilitation resources for the creative community, helping children in the foster care system, and championing ASL interpretation at live music events. The fund plans to announce a new charitable focus each quarter, beginning in 2026 and continuing onward. McBryde shared her personal philosophy behind the initiative: “Leaving the light on for someone is the same as telling them you love them where I’m from. Folks are suffering in ways we’ll never see or know about, and the same way I want someone to come to my show and know that for 90 minutes, they’ve got a safe haven, we hope the Light On Fund will be a place of support, care, and nurturing for causes that have touched my life and my history.”
The primary inspiration for the fund stems directly from the generous example set by McBryde’s mother, Martha, who recently auctioned off one of Ashley’s childhood dresses to give back to her local foster care system in Arkansas. McBryde launched the Light On Fund by personally matching the amount raised from that sale. She emphasized her family’s humble example, noting: “With the establishment of the Light On Fund, I hope that we’re letting people know that we see them and we care. Wherever they may be or may end up on life’s journey, we’ll leave a light on for them.” The Light On Fund is proudly run through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.