At Bat for Ashley Rountree: Kate Grissom
“At Bat” is the Ashley|Rountree series that introduces you to our staff and consultants on a more personal level. The series name is a nod to our baseball-loving founder, Jeff Ashley, and the collaborative spirit of our team members who go to bat every day for our nonprofit client partners.
This month, meet Kate Grissom. A rising senior at Louisville Collegiate School, she’s been spending her summer as an intern with Ashley|Rountree, learning how we support nonprofits through fundraising, campaigns, grants, strategic planning, marketing and communications, searches for filling key roles, and everything in between.
A Chicago native, Kate moved to Louisville three years ago with her parents and brothers to be closer to extended family. She hasn’t yet made a college decision, but wherever she ends up, she hopes to continue playing squash, a sport her whole family enjoys.
Now batting for Ashley|Rountree, here’s Kate. Play her at-bat music, “The Moment” by Tame Impala, as you learn more about her!
What are some of your favorite destinations?
A few years ago, my family and I traveled to New Zealand and did a week-long, 50-mile backpacking trip through the wilderness on the Milford Track. This experience brought us closer together and was one of the coolest weeks of my life. The flora and fauna were beautiful, and a goal of mine is to go on another trip like it. My dream destination is Rome, Italy, because I love Roman mythology and learning about historically significant places. My favorite food is also any kind of pasta, so I would love to go to Italy to eat a lot of pasta and new foods.
Do you have a favorite book?
My favorite book of all time is “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath. The imagery is incredible, and the way that Plath set up the scenes and wrote the characters was unique for her time. “The Bell Jar” also has one of my favorite passages of all time. It’s about a fig tree but symbolizes making hard decisions and confusion. This book broadened my perspective on the importance of life and discovering one’s own identity.
Do you have any little-known talents or abilities?
In my free time, I enjoy painting and drawing. I have been drawing for years to get my mind off things and re-center myself. In the future, I hope to improve my skills enough that I can draw faces realistically. It’s fun to create something new, and it does not have to be perfect to be a good work.
What is a favorite tradition in your family?
Whenever I spend a holiday with my grandmother, we make lefse. My grandmother is Norwegian, and she taught me and my siblings and me how to make lefse at a young age. There is not a specific holiday it’s tied to, but it always reminds me of my childhood and my family, and it also tastes really good!
Have you had a favorite pet?
I got Star, my first and only childhood dog, when I was 4. My brothers and I could not decide on a name, and while I still think Strawberry Shortcake is a great dog’s name, my brothers disagreed, so we stuck with the name the breeder gave her. She is now 13 and energetic as ever. She is a super sweet dog and very fun to play with. She loves to meet new people and always greets them by happily wagging her tail. She is my favorite pet because she is always there to be supportive and have fun.
Lightning round!
- French fry dipping sauce: Ketchup
- Cards or Cats: Cards
- Dogs or cats: Dogs
- Comfort food: Pasta
- Favorite holiday: Christmas
- Favorite season: Fall
Have any burning questions for us? Would you like to see a particular team member featured? Let us know!