SpezialK
04-07-07, 10:12 AM
Rachael Ray Gives Tornado Victims the Gift of Prom
Rachael Ray made sure that an Alabama high school that lost eight classmates and their school to a tornado last month got a senior prom.
The celeb chef and star of The Rachael Ray Show paid for the dance, planned the menu and helped prepare dinner at Enterprise High School's prom, Ray's publicist tells the Associated Press (http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/ap/20070406/117584802000.html). The evening was also captured on film and is set to air on an episode of Ray's talk show later this month.
"The students of Enterprise High are so courageous, given all that they've gone through," Ray said in the statement. "When I heard about what happened to their school and classmates, we wanted to help.
"The prom was all about celebrating their accomplishments and honoring the classmates who tragically lost their lives," she adds.
The prom was themed "Caught in a Moment." Photographs of seniors Jamie Vidensek and Michael Tompkins, two of the students killed, lined the dance floor.
In an interview with The Dothan Eagle (http://www.dothaneagle.com/gulfcoasteast/dea/local_news.apx.-content-articles-DEA-2007-04-06-0012.html) newspaper, senior Mitchell Baker, 17, said the prom was bittersweet after the death of his friends.
"It makes it a little harder for me,” he said. "I'm used to all of them being around."
"Mikey was a very outgoing guy. It’s going to be hard without him," senior Kyle Dalton added. "But he is the kind of guy who would say, ‘Go ahead, have fun.’ He would want us to have fun."
The tornado struck the school on March 1. On Thursday, Alabama governor Bob Riley signed a bill designating $32 million to rebuild the high school as well as a local elementary school.
Talk to Us: Was it exploitative of Ray to film the event for her show, or was she simply honoring the student's memories? (http://usmagazine.com/rachael_ray_gives_tornado_victims_the_gift_of_prom )
http://usmagazine.com/rachael_ray_gives_tornado_victims_the_gift_of_prom
Rachael Ray made sure that an Alabama high school that lost eight classmates and their school to a tornado last month got a senior prom.
The celeb chef and star of The Rachael Ray Show paid for the dance, planned the menu and helped prepare dinner at Enterprise High School's prom, Ray's publicist tells the Associated Press (http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/ap/20070406/117584802000.html). The evening was also captured on film and is set to air on an episode of Ray's talk show later this month.
"The students of Enterprise High are so courageous, given all that they've gone through," Ray said in the statement. "When I heard about what happened to their school and classmates, we wanted to help.
"The prom was all about celebrating their accomplishments and honoring the classmates who tragically lost their lives," she adds.
The prom was themed "Caught in a Moment." Photographs of seniors Jamie Vidensek and Michael Tompkins, two of the students killed, lined the dance floor.
In an interview with The Dothan Eagle (http://www.dothaneagle.com/gulfcoasteast/dea/local_news.apx.-content-articles-DEA-2007-04-06-0012.html) newspaper, senior Mitchell Baker, 17, said the prom was bittersweet after the death of his friends.
"It makes it a little harder for me,” he said. "I'm used to all of them being around."
"Mikey was a very outgoing guy. It’s going to be hard without him," senior Kyle Dalton added. "But he is the kind of guy who would say, ‘Go ahead, have fun.’ He would want us to have fun."
The tornado struck the school on March 1. On Thursday, Alabama governor Bob Riley signed a bill designating $32 million to rebuild the high school as well as a local elementary school.
Talk to Us: Was it exploitative of Ray to film the event for her show, or was she simply honoring the student's memories? (http://usmagazine.com/rachael_ray_gives_tornado_victims_the_gift_of_prom )
http://usmagazine.com/rachael_ray_gives_tornado_victims_the_gift_of_prom