Wristband, T-Shirt Sales Benefit O’Laughlin Memorial Fund

Even four thousand wristbands haven’t been enough.

The purple bands, which read “Kelli Joy O’Laughlin—4.2.97-10.27.11,” have been selling almost faster than the organizers of the “Wristbands for Kelli” fundraiser can order them, with all proceeds going into Kelli’s ever-accumulating scholarship memorial fund.

“It’s just escalating into this big thing,” said Indian Head Park resident Bill Ferhman, one of the coordinators of the fundraiser. “I’m sending them to Norway, Holland, California, West Virginia, Washington D.C. It’s people reaching out, and it’s just huge. And the support that we’ve had from the local community has just been phenomenal.”

The “Wristbands” program was started by three of O’Laughlin’s friends—Karli Ferhman, Olivia Jones and Tessa Metz—the Saturday after their , and was quickly picked up by the rest of the community.

LT freshman Jack McCormick is one of many who have been selling the wristbands rapidly, using Facebook to contact friends and setting up at events like Ogden Avenue School’s “Red Sled.” He’s been moving the $3 bands quickly, even selling a batch of 42 to an LT graduate who wanted to pass them out to her college friends.

“So many people are wearing them,” McCormick said. “It helps people to get through it. It helps people to comprehend it more when they know they’re helping out… you just think, if you’re doing something to help, then you’re doing something about it.”

This wristbands are donated, and every dollar—100 percent—of proceeds goes straight into the memorial scholarship fund. With the addition of several anonymous donations, the “Wristbands” project has raised about $15,800 for the memorial fund to date.

Several local businesses have also been selling the bands, and Ferhman said the customers have ranged “from seven-year-old kids to 90-year-old grandmothers.” He’s even spotted a local policeman wearing one.

Meanwhile, another group of students were at Dino’s Pizzeria in La Grange over the weekend, selling white T-shirts emblazoned “KO’MMUNITY” in that same purple, O’Laughlin’s favorite color.

Like with the wristbands, the T-shirts are donated and all money goes to the same memorial fund—and like with the wristbands, the impetus came from LT students, in this case Colleen Condon and friends, including Helene Griffin.

“We wanted something about ‘unity’ on it, but we didn’t want to just say ‘unity,’ so something more clever came,” Griffin said of the T-shirt slogan. “Everyone has been really excited to do something. They want to make sure that people remember her, not let it be over in a few weeks.”

Griffin added that even LT’s fierce rivals, the Red Devils of Hinsdale Central, have been buying the T-shirts, making it a true regional community effort.

Both the shirts and wristbands are still available, and likely will remain so for as long as there is demand. Those interested in shirts should e-mail Sally Condon; anyone interested in a wristband should e-mail “Wristbands for Kelli” directly.

The community support is appreciated by all. “I couldn’t tell you how many people have reached out and helped us,” said Ferhman. “It’s just one of those things… It’s just been phenomenal.”