COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO – The horrific murders of four young adults in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022, hit close to home for many in our community. Two of the young women whose lives ended way too soon had been raised here. Madison “Maddie” Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21-year-old students at the University of Idaho, graduated from Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene. Maddie was a business and marketing major, while Kaylee was pursuing general studies at the time, and both young ladies were sorority members.
Beyond the sensationalized news coverage that tried to turn this tragedy into a spectacle for ratings, there are those who knew and loved Maddie and Kaylee, as well as Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, and who seek to remember the unique beauty of each life.
I speak for many when I say Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were a light in not only my life, but every room the two walked into. I am beyond grateful to have known Maddie and Kaylee in this lifetime. The Made With Kindness Foundation is a way to keep their legacy alive through the characteristics that made Maddie and Kaylee who they are and how they impacted those around them. Good friendship is something to cherish in this world and I am lucky to have had Maddie and Kaylee throughout some of the best and hardest years of our lives. The endless laughter and crazy times with them are memories I will never forget and cherish forever. The Maddie Kaylee Scholarship fund will give us the opportunity to help support the lives of college students, and spread kindness and compassion. I have faith that this foundation will be able to flourish into something as beautiful as the souls of Maddie and Kaylee.”
Ashlin Couch, Made With Kindness Foundation Co-founder
Ashlin Couch was Maddie’s best friend and she joined forces with her mother Angela Nevajas to establish a foundation in remembrance of Maddie and Kaylee. With the blessings of both the girls’ families, Couch and Nevajas co-founded the Maddie Kaylee Scholarship Fund.
“I knew all the kids, but I was really close with Maddie and Kaylee,” shared Nevajas, the foundation’s director. “Our foundation is based on the remembrance of these girls, but there is so much more that we plan on doing with the Made With Kindness Foundation.”
According to Nevajas, the mission is to honor the endearing spirits of Maddie and Kaylee by creating a lasting legacy of kindness, joy, and friendship.
To start with, they will be helping students pursue their academic interests. Graduates from Lake City, Coeur d’Alene, Lakeland, and Post Falls will be eligible to apply for the scholarship, starting in March 2025. They will be searching for students who exemplify the qualities of both Maddie and Kaylee, which include dedication, perseverance and good grades. “They were beautiful souls and had wonderful qualities,” stated Nevajas.
There will also be a focus on the community at large. “We want to foster safety and security,” explained Nevajas. “We plan on doing on- and off-campus safety education.” There are plans to begin free self-defense classes later this month, and she is connecting with college campuses in the hopes of bringing keynote speakers to address freshmen classes about the importance of safety and what they can do to protect themselves. “We want to help empower young people, who I feel get a little complacent when they go to school,” shared Nevajas.
Next year, the foundation has plans to begin grief wellness workshops for kids who have experienced tragedy and grief in their lives. “I want to bring the community together,” Nevajas shared, “we are trying to transform a tragedy and turn it into a triumph, and together as a community we can make a difference in the lives of students and create a community that values education and prioritizes safety.”
When Nevajas reached out to the popular North Idaho News Facebook group to help spread the word about the Made With Kindness Foundation, they were happy to assist. “I knew in my heart the goals and aspirations of the foundation were something this community would support,” stated Mike Peetoom, the community outreach coordinator with North Idaho News. “I immediately put Angela in touch with members of local law enforcement, and have reached out to numerous other organizations that understand how important personal security and safety is for young people.”
So far, the foundation has established collaborations with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 43 and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office to maximize their ability to reach the community, help facilitate on- and off-campus safety, and foster compassion and friendship. “The KCSO’s mission is to protect and serve,” stated Deputy Andrew Mohawk. “The foundation’s proactive approach to self-defense will help the public defend itself before we can get there.”
The foundation’s first fundraiser will be held June 15, 2024, at The Club at Prairie Falls located in Post Falls. The Made It Pink Gala is a black tie event with a gourmet dinner, entertainment, and silent auction. The goal is to “fund scholarships in honor of Maddie and Kaylee.” Additionally, the foundation will use funds raised “to expand our services to provide free self-defense classes, on- and off-campus safety, and grief counseling and support for young adults by the following year. Our aim is to offer solace and guidance to those grappling with loss, ensuring that no one faces their struggles alone.”
Community members can reach the Made With Kindness Foundation at 208-620-9350, online at madewithkindnessfoundation.com, and on Facebook.
Already in place are the Xana Kernodle Scholarship Endowment and Ethan’s Smile Foundation in remembrance of Kernodle and Chapin. According to the university’s website, “The Kernodle family has created the Xana Kernodle Scholarship Endowment at University of Idaho in memory of Xana. The Kernodle Family will match dollar-for-dollar gifts to the fund, up to $10,000.” On the website for Ethan’s Smile, a statement from his parents says, “Ethan’s love for life was boundless. With a booming laugh and infectious smile, he spread joy to all who were fortunate enough to know him. Ethan was our storyteller, hard worker, and friend-maker. In the wake of his absence, the Ethan’s Smile Foundation was born – a tribute to Ethan’s unwavering passion for life. Our mission is simple yet profound: to carry forward the legacy of Ethan by providing scholarships that enable others to follow their dreams.”
