Alek's Graduation

Hi, my name is Mark Chad. I'm fundraising for Alek Larson. I'm a 17 year veteran of the Eveleth Police Department. Please know I'm not fundraising on behalf of the department, nor does this fundraising have anything to do with the department. This fundraising was graciously and movingly approved by Alek and her mother.

Tonight I took a call that downright makes me angry. Alek is a member of the graduating 2023 class at Mesabi East. She is entering the Army this summer. Alek was having her graduation party at the Eveleth Super 8 tonight and at the end of the party she and her mom went to open her graduation cards. All of them(30+) were missing. Let me put this in straight terms. Someone stole an 18 year old's graduation cards. Someone stole a member of the U.S. Military's graduation cards. This is among the peak of despicable acts that I've seen from humanity during my career. What I'm hoping for from this fundraiser is to harness the power of kindness in humanity to help make this young adult's graduation a momentous occasion she deserves and not a tragedy.

To be absolutely clear, the cameras in the room where this occured weren't working today. We have no definitive suspects at this time. This makes us angry. I thank each and every one of you for giving what you can to help!