Amy Poppinga

A benefit for the Brad Odens family will be held April 18 at Nutty’s South, located off of 49th Street and Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls.

“Brad was an amazing individual, and with the tough economy and the cost of a funeral being pretty expensive, we want to help ease the stress of that,” said Chad Meyer, one of the event’s organizers.

The benefit will run from noon to 4 p.m., and each participant will pay $10 to get unlimited drinks from Miller Lite or Coors Light kegs during the four-hour period.

Several fundraisers will be held throughout the day. A silent auction will feature such items as beer memorabilia: mirrors, signs, shirts and hats, and event organizers will raffle off a VIP ticket to the NFL Draft Party with Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings. The draft party will be held April 25 in Mitchell, S.D., and the VIP ticket includes a limousine ride from Sioux Falls to Mitchell. Mike Miller of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Ryan Bader of UFC fighting will join Greenway at the event.

Additionally, buttons commemorating Odens’ life and crosses will be sold for $1 each, with all proceeds of the day’s fundraisers going to the family.

Organizers encourage out-of-town participants to bring a designated driver, and taxis will be available to safely drive participants from the event.

“We want everyone to be safe and have fun while helping the family out,” Meyer said.

Odens, a 23-year-old SDSU student, was shot in the early hours of April 9 while entering a house two away from his own. Police said Odens was probably confused about his whereabouts.