IDAHO FALLS, Idaho–A credit union here helped play a role in surprising a mother of three with tickets to a Garth Brooks concert, after she missed seeing Brooks 21 years earlier after being involved in an accident on the way to the show. The surprise act of kindness has received media coverage across the country.
East Idaho Credit Union surprised a Kelsey Countryman with the tickets after having used its social media channels for several weeks to nominate friends or family who have experienced tough times and deserve a break with a Garth Brooks concert getaway.
Twenty-one years ago, at age 6, Countryman went to Salt Lake City with her aunt and uncle to see Brooks in concert when she was hit by a car in the parking lot of their hotel just an hour before the concert. She was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery to repair her broken femur and stabilize her leg. Kelsey ended up missing the concert and hasn’t been able to see Garth Brooks since, the credit union said.
Coming Full Circle
“We knew we had to change that and help finish her goal by getting to that concert,” said Toby Hayes, vice president of marketing at East Idaho Credit Union, in a statement. “With close to 200 nominations, we read through tales of tremendous heart break, but knew this would help Kelsey come full circle and give her a needed break.”
Countryman is the mother of three children under three. She and her husband just recently had their middle child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
“If anyone deserves a break, it’s Kelsey,” said Rhonda Newman, Kelsey’s aunt who accompanied her to the hospital 21 years ago and nominated her for the getaway. “My husband and I are already going to Boise to see Garth and we had invited Kelsey to go with us. She told us that she would love to go, but she couldn’t afford it and would rather spend the money on her kids. That’s when I knew she was so deserving of this.”
CU Surprises Winner
An East Idaho Credit Union representative showed up at Kelsey’s house one morning, and along with Newman, surprised her with the $700 value package that includes gas, food, a hotel stay and two field level tickets to the concert at Albertson’s Stadium in Boise, Idaho.