THE ASHLEY ROSE FOUNDATION WAS FORMED IN 1996 BY RAY & LINDA PITEK IN MEMORY OF THEIR DAUGHTER ASHLEY WHO WAS LOST DUE TO COMPLICATIONS RELATING TO SPINA BIFIDA. THE THREEFOLD PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO 1)INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF SPINA BIFIDA AND THE BENEFIT OF TAKEN FOLIC ACID, 2)PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CHILDREN HAVING SPINA BIFIDA AS WELL AS TO THEIR FAMILIES, AND 3)FUND RESEARCH TOWARD THE PREVENTION OF SPINA BIFIDA. THE FOUNDATION IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON ONE PROGRAM, WHEREBY THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE ASHLEY ROSE PITEK NURSE SCHOLARS FELLOWSHIP AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF NURSING. THIS PROGRAM SPONSORS NURSE PRACTICIONERS FOR ENROLLMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY'S DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE PROGRAMS FOR THE COMPLETION OF A DOCTORAL DEGREE FOCUSED ON A CRITICAL ASPECT OF SPINA BIFIDA CARE THAT COULD BE APPLIED IN PRACTICE AND WHICH WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVED CARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.