Sunday, October 28, 2012
On a Saturday night exactly one year after a girl’s murder stunned the Lyons Township community, residents gathered to remember dedicate a new memorial.
On October 27, 2011, the horrific murder of teenager Kelli O’Laughlin roiled the Lyons Township community, precipitating a yearlong outpouring that shows no sign of waning. On October 27, 2012, hundreds of community members flooded tiny Sacajawea Park in northwest Indian Head Park to dedicate a new memorial beside Kelli’s Playground, as the park’s structure has now been officially renamed. It was Kelli’s—and her family’s—name for the park, which is just about as old as Kelli would have been. The memorial consists of a plaque, a bench and an eastern redbud tree, which will flower in the bright purple that has become a symbol for Kelli’s memory. On the plaque are inscribed lyrics from Disney’s The Fox and the Hound: “Goodbye may seem forever…
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The fundraiser will come just a year after the murder that shocked and grieved the Lyons Township community and will raise for Kelli O’Laughlin’s memorial fund.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Darren McRoy
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
As the Lyons Township community approaches one year of mourning Kelli O’Laughlin, the Indian Head Park teen slain in her home late last October, her family and the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Fund have announced a race event for November 11 to benefit the fund. “As we mark one year since Kelli’s passing, we have been inspired by her everlasting spirit,” said Kelli’s mother Brenda in a press release. “We strive to keep her zest for life alive in our own pursuits to make our communities a better place, one neighbor and one block at a time.” The “Run for Kelli” event, a 5k run (three miles) on LT’s cross-country course, will be held Nov. 11 at Lyons Township High School South Campus in Western Springs, with four start times from 7:30 a.m. …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
District 106 held an indoor and outdoor ceremony to open a new memorial outside Highlands Middle School to their tragically slain young alumna.
Long live the walls we crashed through/all the kingdom lights shined just for me and you/I was screaming, long live all the magic we made/And bring on all the pretenders, one day we will be remembered... So sang the Highlands Middle School show choir on Wednesday, performing Taylor Swift’s “Long Live” as they dedicated a new “peace garden” in front of the school memorializing Kelli Joy O’Laughlin, a 2011 Highlands graduate who was killed in her Indian Head Park home in October. The garden consists of a granite bench, a Jane magnolia tree and a stone with a plaque bearing Kelli’s name. On Wednesday, the tree was decorated in ribbons bearing the names of the Highlands Middle School Class of 2011—so Kelli could be “surrounded by her …
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Although Hinsdale Central beat Lyons Township 58-47, the team saw fantastic success in their fundraising efforts for the Kelli O’Laughlin memorial scholarship.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Darren McRoy
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The fourth annual Lyons Township “Blackout” home boys’ basketball game versus rivals Hinsdale Central on Feb. 17 brought in a total of $31,000, which after promotional expenses will cut a $23,000 check to the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Scholarship Fund. Attendance at the game was estimated at 3500, including 700-1000 Lyons Township students. The basketball team plans to present the funds to the O’Laughlin family at the conclusion of the season. “You hope that you’re able to bring in a big crowd and it didn’t disappoint,” said LT freshman team coach Jason Brauer. “The turnout was outstanding. Any time you can put that many people in a gym for a game, the atmosphere is going to be loud.” O’Laughlin was 14 and a Lyons Township freshman …
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Lyons Township High School North Campus
100 S Brainard Ave, La Grange, IL
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Friday, February 17, 2012
The fourth year of Lyons Township's biggest regular-season game of the year on Friday has a charitable bent as players and fans raise money for the slain Kelli O'Laughlin's scholarship fund.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Darren McRoy
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Friday, February 17, 2012
The annual Blackout boys’ basketball game at Lyons Township High School between the Lions and their cross-Interstate rivals the Hinsdale Central Red Devils on Friday will also this year serve as a show of community unity and a fundraiser for the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Scholarship, for which the team expects to raise $15,000-$20,000. All Lions basketball players have been working tirelessly to jack up their fundraising total, said freshman team coach Jason Brauer, with everything from T-shirt and ticket sales to a pledge drive where players collected per-basket pledges from the community before attempting 100 consecutive free throws. “I’ve never been more proud to be a coach at LT after seeing what these boys have done to raise money…
41.81219
-87.879459
Lyons Township High School North Campus
100 S Brainard Ave, La Grange, IL
/articles/lt-vs-hc-basketball-blackout-is-o-laughlin-benefit
273331
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Monday, October 31, 2011
Donations are being taken at the Indian Head Park Administrative Center and Hinsdale Bank and Trust.
A fund has been established for those who want to add to the reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder of 14-year-old Kelli O'Laughlin. Police say the Lyons Township freshman was stabbed to death on Oct. 27, after coming home from school and walking in on a burglary taking place in her own home in Indian Head Park. Over the weekend, an anonymous donor stepped forward to donate $10,000 as a reward to anyone who could help police catch O'Laughlin's killer, according to FOX Chicago. Shortly afterward, two more donors stepped forward, bringing the amount to $30,000, according to the Chicago Tribune. Since then, community members and people touched by the tragedy have …
41.8016
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25 E 1st St, Hinsdale, IL
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41.771475
-87.894733
201 Acacia Dr, Indian Head Park, IL
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Kelsey
10:35 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
More than anything, we would all love to have Kelli back. Since that is not to be, the community coming together with so much support is so impressive. It will not wipe away the pain of this loss. It will however, remind us each day that the good will always prevail. Even though doing good or getting to the good is not easy, it will in the end, always prevail. Love does conquer all things. God … more ›