Event raises over $650K to benefit scholarship fund in honor of woman shot, killed in McKeesport

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Months after Karli Short’s tragic passing, her father, NFL great and McKeesport native Brandon Short, is honoring her memory and legacy by giving back to the very community where she lived and he was raised.

On Friday, Short hosted a fundraiser to benefit the Karli Short Better Tomorrow Foundation, a scholarship fund honoring his late daughter.

“When you lose a child, there is no type of pain that can compare to that,” said Short.

Back in September, Short’s 26-year-old pregnant daughter Karli, a woman he described as pure and true, was killed on 25th Street in McKeesport after police say the father of her child, Isaac Smith, shot her.

Short tells Channel 11 he hopes to define Karli’s legacy not by tragedy, but through philanthropy.

“I know that Karli would want me to move forward ... and make something positive out of this terrible tragedy,” said Short.

The hope is that the money raised will go directly towards a scholarship fund for students grappling with the fallout of gun violence themselves.

“We have a grand vision for our foundation. We want to support multiple schools around mental health and emotional support, ... and we are starting at Penn State Greater Allegheny,” said Short.

Event emcee and NFL great Anthony “Spice” Adams tells me Short’s love for his daughter is not only endless, but it’s inspiring.

Adams recalls when he and Short were just young teammates and Karli was a baby.

“I didn’t understand being a father ... until I saw Brandon with his daughter, and I thought, ‘Man, that’s pretty cool,’” said Adams.

Now, decades later, Adams tells Channel 11 he believes the foundation and scholarship fund is exactly what Karli, a smart and caring mother-to-be, would have wanted.

“I’m pretty sure she is smiling down on us right now, because that’s what she liked to do. She like to support people and help people. That’s what this foundation is all about.”

On Friday, the Karli Short Better Tomorrow Foundation raised over $650,000.

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