Our Founders Ashton & Keli Story
How It All Started
After losing their family home in a devastating fire, Keli and Ashton found strength in the ashes and built something extraordinary: a mission that brings comfort, dignity, and immediate support to families displaced by disaster. What began as a mother and son delivering air mattresses and blankets from their dining room has grown into a boots-on-the-ground operation that rallies the multifamily industry to serve tens of thousands across the Southeastern United States and beyond.
Hatching Hope was Co-Founded in 2016 by Keli Lynch-Wright and her son Ashton after experiencing the loss of their family home to a fire in 2010. Since our launch, we have provided recovery essentials and aid to over 500,000 families across the southern United States.
About Keli
Whether she's mobilizing volunteers, building partnerships with property management teams, or comforting survivors firsthand, Keli brings empathy, excellence, and boundless energy to every endeavor. Her work has inspired Fortune 500 companies, multifamily leaders, and community organizations to step in, show up, and serve.
At the heart of this movement is Keli-a mother, a servant leader, and a relentless force for good-unifying the multifamily industry around one powerful belief: that together, we can bring hope home.
Keli Lynch-Wright is a passionate humanitarian, visionary leader, and the heartbeat behind Hatching Hope, a nationally recognized disaster relief and humanitarian aid nonprofit organization. With deep roots in the multifamily housing industry and a heart forever changed by personal loss, Keli turned her greatest heartbreak into a powerful, multifamily-driven movement of hope.
After losing her family home in a devastating fire, Keli-alongside her young son, Ashton-found strength in the ashes and built something extraordinary: a mission that brings comfort, dignity, and immediate support to families displaced by disaster. What began as a mother and son delivering air mattresses and blankets from their dining room has grown into a boots-on-the-ground operation that rallies the multifamily industry to serve tens of thousands across the Southeastern United States and beyond.
Under Keli's leadership, Hatching Hope has redefined disaster relief-not just as a response, but as an act of compassion, community, and industry-wide purpose. Her unwavering belief that every family deserves a safe place to land fuels the organization's mission to deliver refuge kits, cleanup supplies, pet relief, and emotional support in times of crisis.
Our Mission
Hatching Hope is a 501(c)(3) disaster relief nonprofit serving the multifamily housing industry. With the help of dedicated volunteers, we've served over 1.2 million residents displaced by fires, storms, hurricanes, and other disasters. We provide essential relief kits, pet comfort kits, and children's items through partnerships with property management companies, vendor partners, and apartment associations. Together, we deliver comfort and hope-one kit, one resident, one act of compassion at a time.
Proudly serving our multifamily family when it matters most.
Our Timeline
2016
Hatching Hope Founded
Our organization was launched to provide relief after disaster strikes.
2017
First Disaster Kits Distributed
We began distributing essentials to families in crisis across the South.
2018
Volunteer Network Expanded
Dozens of volunteers joined our mission to serve more communities.
2019
Reached 50+ Communities
Our impact reached over 50 communities across several states.
Our Team
Board of Directors
