wfn.org | Memorial concert on May 3 to benefit ELCA's St. Olaf scholarship

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

>ELCA News Blog

>April 17, 2009  

Memorial concert on May 3 to benefit ELCA's St. Olaf scholarship

>by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service

Katherine Ann Olson, a graduate of St. Olaf College, Northfield,
Minn., was murdered in October 2007 at the age of 24. On April 1,
2009, a judge sentenced a 20-year-old Minnesota man to life in
prison without the possibility of parole for luring Olson to his
home with a fake Craigslist ad for a babysitting job and shooting
her as she tried to leave. Olson's father is the Rev. Rolf E.
Olson, pastor of Richfield Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
Richfield Lutheran is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA).

Some of Olson's friends, in partnership with Craigslist, are
hosting "A Tribute to Katherine: Letting Her Light Shine" on May
3 at Grace Church, Eden Prairie, Minn. It is a memorial concert
with the goal of raising $100,000 to set up a memorial
scholarship in her name at St. Olaf College, one of 28 colleges
and universities of the ELCA. "Craigslist has offered financial
and promotional support, as well as connecting the Olsons to
members of the music industry," said Jennifer Bagdade,
spokeswoman for the Olson family. "Though the entire situation is
tragic in nature, both the Olsons and Craigslist look forward to
celebrating the spirit of Katherine as well as the power of
community," she said.

In an April 2 entry on the Craigslist blog, Jim Buckmaster,
Craigslist CEO, wrote, "We again extend our heartfelt condolences
to the Olson family, and are thankful that justice has been
served in the courtroom, so that the focus for all those who
cared for Katherine can now rightfully return to the celebration
of her life and the inspirational example that she (and her
entire family) have set for us all." Buckmaster drew attention to
the memorial concert and its purpose to raise money for the
St. Olaf scholarship.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog