The Dakota Konnection Award is presented to a 7th grade student who receives the most votes from the 7th grade student body that has similar characteristics and a love of sports that Dakota had.
2012 Dakota Konnection - Ryan Galusha
2011 Dakota Konnection - Michael Kovalchik
In addition to the Scholarship Awards, look at what your generous support of the Dakota Galusha Fund has enabled us to do:
- Financial donation to help cover funeral expenses to bereaved families who lost a child (2009/2010)
- Headstone for a much deserving baby that has passed on to the eternal life (2009)
- Back to School supplies for under privileged families for the past 2 years (2009/2010)
- A bike was awarded to Casey Conner the first recipient of the Northampton Area Middle School Dakota Connection Award for having the same characteristics as Dakota (2009)
- Provided a pizza dinner for the 2009 NAA Midgets All Star Baseball Game (2009)
- Provided hot dogs and soda to all the players and cheerleaders on NAA Football opening day (2009)
- Chuckie Cheese and Toys R Us gift cards to a child with cancer (2009)
- Bike computer and monetary gift to Aaron Marth who is battling cancer (2009)
- T-Shirts given to the players of the Annual Dakota Galusha Memorial Football game
- Christmas gift donation to a family of 3 in need and also a 13 year old boy whose mother is battling terminal cancer (2009)
- Sponsorship of the Northampton Middle School PSSA’s survival kit (2010)
- Provided numerous monetary donations in Dakota’s name to bereaved families throughout the Lehigh Valley who have suffered the loss of a child (2009/2010)
- Provided several trust funds to bereaved children throughout the Lehigh Valley who have suffered the loss of a parent (2010)
- Sponsored the Northampton Middle School 8th Grade Dance (2010)
- Monetary donation to Northampton homicide victims, the Merhi family and the Zernhelt family (2010)
- Gas and groceries to a family dealing with cancer (2010)
- Monetary donation to the Diamond League Dreams Come True baseball tournament held at Hackett Park in Easton, PA (2010)
- Monetary donation to the Jeremy Torres Transportation Fund Golf Outing (2010)
- Monetary donation to Love-4-Lance, a 10 year old boy diagnosed with Ducgene’s Muscular Dystrophy (2010)
- Hosted end of year parties for Northampton football players, from flags to varsity (2010)
- Food vouchers from Northampton vendors to a family dealing with cancer (2010)
- Provided Thanksgiving dinner to 3 families in need (2010)
- Made Christmas possible for 7 families in need (2010)
- Food and gas vouchers to a family whose son was struck by a car (2011)
- Provided a high school student the chance to attend Penn State Football Camp (2011)
- Monetary donation to Autism Society of America, Lehigh Valley Chapter (2011)
- Awarded prizes during the Northampton opening day for baseball to 2 lucky players (2011)
- Provided back-to school supplies for 4 families in need (2011)
- Made donation to NAA for the purchase of new football jerseys (2011)
- Provided Thanksgiving for 4 families in need (2011)
- Provided Christmas for 4 families in need (2011)
- Donation of 300 duffle bags to surround county Children & Youth agencies for children to pack their belongings when removed from their home (2011)
- Donation made to Last Chance Ranch animal shelter (2012)
- Monetary donation to Autism Society of America, Lehigh Valley Chapter (2012)
- Awarded prizes during the Northampton opening day for baseball to 2 lucky players (2012)
- Provided back-to school supplies for 4 families in need (2012)
- Provided Christmas for 9 children (2012)
- Monetary donation made to East Stroudsburg University for fundraiser (2013)
- Monetary donation to Miracles for Ella (2013)
- Monetary donation to the Oakes family from Catasauqua (2013)
- Many random acts of kindness given in the spirit of Dakota’s generous giving nature.
