Breakfast (and support) was served
Fundraiser to update Clinton icon’s house raises $5,000
Apple Blossom Cafe hosted a fundraising breakfast for E.T. Stamey Saturday. From left are Director of Clinton City Schools Kelly Dean Johnson, Apple Blossom Cafe owner Jimmy Taylor, and Charlie Lane of C&D Printing. (photo:Ken Leinart )
If you don’t, you need to.
Stamey is a Clinton High School alumni and reliable source about anything Dragon-related, a city councilman, and the man responsible for gathering a dedicated group of people who have helped in building up the Clinton City School Blaze programs.
Yes, that E.T. Stamey.
He is not only the coordinator and athletic director of the Blaze programs, he’s also the program’s biggest fan because he wants to see the youth of Clinton succeed in whatever they want to achieve.
About six week ago Stamey suffered a health crisis.
He has been rehabbing and will probably come home in a week or two.
Director of Clinton City School Kelly Dean Johnson wants Stamey’s return home to be more than a homecoming.
Because of the health crisis Stamey suffered, there needs to be modifications to his home. Johnson has been one of the leaders in spearheading an effort to raise funds to make that possible.
Saturday morning, one of those fundraising efforts took place when Apple Blossom Café in the heart of Clinton and a huge supporter of the Blaze programs hosted a breakfast to raise those funds.
But holding a fundraiser doesn’t do much good if nobody turns outs.
That was not the problem Saturday morning.
“The outcry of support at E.T. Stamey’s breakfast at Apple Blossom on Saturday is a testament to the impact that E.T. has had on our community,” Johnson said.
“The dining room was full for three hours. He has given so much to both the students at Clinton City Schools and the citizens of Clinton. It is an honor to give him something back in return.”
Breakfast was pancakes and sausage, or biscuits and gravy. Some folks just stopped by to get a cup of coffee, make a donation, or buy a t-shirt (The House That E.T. Built — complete with a Blaze logo — and E.T. Strong emblazoned across the front).
Charlie Lane, another huge supporter of Blaze programs and a friend of Stamey, also helped bring Saturday’s event together.
“Between the breakfast donations and T-shirt sales, we raised $5,000,” Johnson said.
Prior to Saturday’s breakfast, somewhere around $16,000 had been raised.
More is needed to refurbish E.T.’s home.
“T-shirts can still be purchased at Clinton Drug Store, C&D Printing, Food City, Fox Toyota, Hoskins, and Rusty Wallace Chevrolet. All t-shirt sales money goes straight into his fundraising account. T-shirts are $20 each,” Johnson said.
Or you may make a donation through Clinton City Schools — all funds go to E.T.
If you ever wanted to give back — now is a god time.