Tree memorial for teen a big success

Hundreds of native ponderosa pines will serve as living memorials to Kayli Wagoner.

Wagoner, 17, of Columbia Falls died in an automobile accident June 7.

Less than a week later, Dan Masciullo, a family friend and former Kalispell resident, organized the tree memorial through social networking from his home in Chicago.

“The idea is for people to go for a drive or a hike and plant a tree in Kayli’s name,” Masciullo said.

He launched a tree memorial campaign June 12 on Facebook and received an overwhelming response.

By Tuesday, Masciullo said he had received enough donations to purchase 325 tree saplings.

That response spurred the creation of www.kaylifund.com to provide an option for making online monetary donations to benefit Wagoner’s family.

Trees will be distributed at 10 a.m. June 29 at Journey Church, 54 Western Village Lane, Columbia Falls. People planning to attend the tree distribution are requested to RSVP at www.facebook.com/TreesForKayli/events. People who have purchased trees should bring their receipt and bags to carry saplings.

Masciullo reminds people not to plant the trees on city property and request permission before planting on private land.

For more information, email admin@kaylifund.com.

A memorial service for Wagoner will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, at Easthaven Baptist Church at 2010 Whitefish Stage Road.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.