9-Year-Old's Death Spurs Memorial Fund to Support Family

The tragic death of 9-year-old Karly Little, of New Lenox, in an Oct. 13 car accident in Kankakee County brings a community together to support the family. Her father, Ken Little, is still recovering at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee from injuries sustained in the two-car collision.

Karly's sister, 11-year-old Katie, received minor injuries and was released from the hospital on Oct. 15.

The New Lenox Rotary Club set up a memorial fund for the Littles to assist in covering expenses associated with the tragedy. The fund, "The Little Family Memorial Fund," has been established at Old Plank Trail Community Bank.

Checks can be made out to "The Little Family Fund," and donations can be mailed to Old Plank Trail Community Bank, 280 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, IL 60451.

Eric Wesel, a member of New Lenox Rotary Club, established the fund. Having known Ken Little as a fellow Rotarian for the last six years he felt compelled to reach out to help the family.

"With him being self-employed (as the manager of Fancher Printers in South Holland) and not knowing how long he's going to be out of work," the fund is a way to tangibly offer assistance and support.

"They're going to need as much help as they can get," he added. There's no telling how high out-of-pocket expenses are going to mount from medical bills while Ken Little heals from spleen surgery and other injuries.

"For six years, I've seen him every Thursday at the Rotary Club. He always helped with printing and putting together Rotary pamphlets and business cards," according to Wesel.

His pet projects were working with the Alliance for Smiles Program and the Rotary's Polio-Plus initiative. The two worked on the Rotary Scholarship program together.

Two days after the accident, the Legacy Girls Traveling Soccer Team paid tribute to Karly at practice. Shocked and dismayed, the parents stood on the sidelines at the field at Lincoln-Way Central High School sharing memories of Karly and their fondness for the entire Little family.     

A major soccer tournament slated for Oct. 20, in Brookfield, WI, is planned to honor Karly as well.  The teammates on six of the Legacy teams have agreed to wear arm bands in Karly's honor, said Michelle Jawor, whose daughter Jordyn, played on the team.

Karly Little, a fourth-grader at Nelson Ridge School, died as a result of injuries after the car she was riding in collided in the intersection of Kankakee County 6000 N. Road and Route 50 in the area of Bourbonnais and Manteno Townships. She was taken to Provena St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee, where she was pronounced dead.

An email on behalf of the family was sent out Wednesday from the family's house of worship, New Life Church in New Lenox, expressing the Little family's appreciation for the overwhelming support from the community. In it the family respectfully asked for a degree of privacy while they attempt to process and grieve the loss of Karly and attempt to heal.

"Additional family statements on arrangements and memorial donations will be released as information becomes available. The Littles deeply appreciate the public's concern and support. It is a comfort for them to know that Karly touched so many lives during her short time on earth," the email stated.

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