Donations allow K-M students to attend Prep Bowl

One hundred Kasson-Mantorville students were able to attend Friday’s Prep Bowl game courtesy of a K-M graduate and local residents and businesses.

“I saw the crowd at the last game and thought how amazing so many people showed up. I loved that the school closed for the day. But it got me thinking that there are probably kiddos who would have loved to join but didn't have the funds at the time,” said K-M graduate Kaeley Smith. “I posted to the local parents Facebook group to see if I could help anyone get their kids to the game by purchasing their ticket, no judgement or questions just simply help the kids have a good time.”

Shortly after making the post, Smith said, she picked up her phone and found she had numerous texts and messages from friends and other community members wanting to help. There were also countless messages on the original post from like-minded givers who wanted to help the kids get to the game.

“I reached out to our superintendent, and we created a plan. I would collect the funds, she would collect the students,” Smith said. 

Within 24 hours over $1,000 had been collected and the next day Smith was able to give Superintendent Beth Giese a check for almost $1,300. Local companies also indicated they wanted to pitch in. Since they had raised enough to get the kids to the game, Smith said, the companies provided funds to purchase spirit items such as beads, face stickers and pom poms.

Smith said she graduated from K-M in 2010. Her pride for the community runs deep, she said, as her grandfather, Ervin Erichsen, was once the police chief, and her father, Barry Erichsen, recently retired as the postal clerk after more than 20 years.

“I truthfully don't know any kids on the team and my oldest is only five,” Smith said. “I remember my football team going to state my senior year, and it was so much fun. Riding up with friends, running around laughing and cheering on our team. Every kid deserves to have those same core memories, and this all sprouted because of the memories I had.”

Smith and her husband, Tyler, have four children, Lyla, 5, Harper, 4, Molly, 3, and Ervin, 20 months. She said football is a “huge passion” of hers, and they have season tickets to the Vikings.

“I love helping others and giving us something my children already have instilled in them,” she said. “I also selfishly wanted to see a sea of blue to make our boys feel more like home. I want them to see their neighbors, classmates, random kids they ride the bus with. The more the merrier!”

Orono, she said, is only 20 minutes from U.S. Bank stadium, and that district is allowing their students an excused absence if they go to the game. K-M schools closed for the day. Since they are the home team, Smith said, she wanted it to feel that way.