Alumni starts GoFundMe page to help rebuild Minnehaha Academy

MINNEAPOLIS (KSMP) - In the wake of Wednesday's tragic natural gas explosion at Minnehaha Academy, administrators are scrambling to find safe places for students and staff come the start of a new school year in a few weeks.

In the meantime, one alumnus is vowing to help rebuild the school--one dollar at a time.

Brad Person graduated from the school in 1989, and most of his family members went there as well. His brother and sister-in-law are currently teachers there, and knew both Ruth Berg and John Carlson, the two staff members who died in the blast.

Staring at the destruction in what used to be the library and lunchroom he spent so much time in as a teenager, he said he had to do something.

"There's such a strong history there--the school's been around for over 100 years and many generations of the same family have been there," he said. "Someone had to get the ball rolling. I was just in front of my computer and I just did it."

He created a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising a $250,000 to rebuild the historic school, garnering donations from family, friends, alumni and even some total strangers.

Thursday night, the effort had already raised $4,860.