It rained Saturday but that did nothing to dampen the spirit of those who came to get their cars washed at the Pleasantview Fire Department in La Grange.
The turnout was a testament to the memory of Kelli O’Laughlin, a 14-year-old Indian Head Park girl who was killed during a home invasion in 2011. Since her death, her friends and classmates had held regular car washes to benefit the Kelli O’Laughlin Foundation, a nonprofit her parents started in her honor.
To date, the car wash has raised about $8,000 for the organization.
This year, however, the car wash is being hosted not by a classmate or even a peer of O’Laughlin, but by a high school student who was nevertheless impacted by her life.
Colin Walsh, now a junior at Lyons Township High School, organized the car wash. Walsh was too young to go to school with O’Laughlin — who was a freshman when she was killed — Walsh’s older sister, Mariah, did.
“I was in fourth and fifth grade, and she was really nice,” he said.
About 20 of his classmates turned up throughout the afternoon to volunteer their time.
Caroline Walsh, Colin’s mother, said O’Laughlin was one of the few friends Mariah had at that time who was nice to Mariah’s little brother, despite the age gap.
“She and Mariah would play in the yard with Collin and how many girls that age would do that,” Caroline asked.
Caroline Walsh said the two girls had been friends since kindergarten and, over the years, she got to know O’Laughlin well.
“She was just a sweet, caring kid,” Caroline Walsh said. “But fun, too.”
Colin said he felt obligated to continue the car wash tradition.
“My sister originally planned this for years,” he said. “Then, in 2016, nobody did it and so I took it over.”
This year’s event raised just under $1,000, money that will be used to fund college scholarships or trips to Camp Tecumseh, one of O’Laughlin’s favorite places. Camp Tecumseh is a YMCA camp in Indiana.
“The foundation is incredible,” Caroline said. “They give out hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and not just to LT students.”
John O’Laughlin, Kelli’s father, said he is thankful the car wash is continuing.
“It’s a great outpouring of community support. We get to see some of Kelli’s classmates come back,” he said. “They’re driving cars now and they come stop by and say hello so it’s nice.”
The Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Foundation hosts fundraisers throughout the year. In September, they host a run and then in October there is a beer and band festival fundraiser. More information can be found at www.kjofund2.com.
