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12-year-old raises $20K for unaccompanied homeless youths

Posted at 9:22 AM, Feb 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-03 11:22:47-05
Violin Fundraiser
KALISPELL – Lauren Welch, 12, had only been playing the violin for two years when her violin teacher proposed a challenge. (MTN News photo)

KALISPELL – Lauren Welch, 12, had only been playing the violin for two years when her violin teacher proposed a challenge.

He asked her to organize her own music concert, to raise money to give back to the community.

Lauren says she practices her violin for hours every day, so she was eager to embark on this challenge.

“When I heard that I was able to do my own concert, I went home and started designing the poster and chose the date and I had to make all the phone calls to Flathead High School and to Ray Thompson to see if he would match all donations,” Welch said.

Prominent Kalispell businessman and owner of Sykes diner Ray Thompson matched the $10,000 and Welch was able to give $20,000 to Sparrow’s Nest to help unaccompanied homeless high school students.