Annual SMU benefit dance to help La Crosse family
WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University will present the seventh annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance, “The Start of Something New,” from 8:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, March 3.
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This beneficiary of this year’s formal dance — open to the public — is SMU 1994 alumna Shelly (Kubicek) McMahon and her family. Shelly is currently from the La Crosse, Wis., area. Her husband, Sean, a 1994 alumus of SMU, died last spring after battling severe depression. Shelly is now raising their four young children as a single parent. Both Sean and Shelly were also employees of the university; Sean worked for the De La Salle Language program and Shelly worked in Student Activities.
In addition to raising money to help the McMahon family, planners of the event hope to bring awareness to the disease of depression and how it can be managed through treatment.
This benefit dance has become an annual tradition since it was started by students in 2001 in honor of Taylor Richmond, son of Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry and Student Activities staff member Nikki Richmond. Taylor has a genetic terminal illness called Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) and the money from his benefit was used to fulfill Taylor's dream of going to Disneyworld. Each year this event benefits someone in the SMU community in need.
The dance, featuring music by the Johnny Holm Band, will be held in the Toner Student Center dining room. Ticket prices are $15 per person or $25 per couple. To purchase tickets or receive more information, contact Jason Richter at (507) 457-1648 or Katie LaPlant (507) 457-6936. Dance tickets will also be available at the door.
To make a donation, send checks — payable to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance — to Jason Richter, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, 700 Terrace Heights No. 45, Winona, MN 55987.
In combination with the dance, a silent auction will be held on campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1-2. A variety of homemade goods, gift baskets and specialty items will be on display in the game room, located in the Toner Student Center. Proceeds from the auction will also go to the McMahon family.
