(November 8, 2009, updated) -- Downtown LB businessman John Morris tells LBReport.com that on Wednesday night Nov. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.,
multiple restaurants on Pine Ave. between 1st and 3rd Sts. will participate in a fundraiser for the family of Melody Ross, the 16 year-old Wilson High School student fatally shot following the school's homecoming football game.
Each restaurant will donate a percentage of sales from the evening to the Melody Ross Memorial Trust, Mr. Morris says in a release.
Mr. Morris told LBReport.com that some familymembers are expected to attend. He added that he knows Melody's uncle, having met him roughly 15 years ago when the familymember worked for Mitch Rouse of Yellow Cab.
"Over the years, he worked for us quite a bit, doing a lot of driving for us and we got to know him pretty well," Mr. Morris said.
Mr. Morris said that among the Pine Ave. restaurants planning to participate are his Bouchees Bistro at Smooth's, as well as L'Opera, The Madison, Allegria, Hooters, Cafe Sevilla, George's Greek Cafe, Shannon's Pub, Taco Beach, Alladin, Alondra Wings, and It's a Grind coffee house.
[Release text] People are encouraged to come out and celebrate the life of Melody Ross and show support for the family. You may make a tax-deductible donation to the Melody Ross Memorial Trust Account via check or credit card.
Checks may be made out to the Long Beach Education Foundation. A note in the memo line should read: Melody Ross Memorial Trust Account. Checks should be sent to:
Long Beach Education Foundation
1515 Hughes Way
Long Beach, CA 90810
The Melody Ross Memorial Trust Account was established by LB's Superintendent of Schools and President of the Long Beach Education Foundation prior to and separate from the Pine Ave. event. LBUSD's website describes the trust account as follows:
This account is established to receive funds for costs associated with her death such as her funeral and related costs, costs her parents may incur due to her tragic death, possibly for assistance for the family, or to ease the burden for her siblings when they want to go to college. This will not simply be a scholarship fund, but rather a broad account to be used for many expenditures, all relating to Melody Ross. It may also include scholarships. It may include programs to prevent tragedies such as this one from occurring again."
We asked Mr. Morris how the Pine Ave. fundraiser came about. "You know, I basically walked up and down the street, knocked on doors, talked to people, and now it's done," he said matter-of-factly...and added, "Now tell your readers to come on down."
Over the years, Mr. Morris has been the catalyst for a number of special events on downtown Pine Ave...home to his Mums, later Smooths now Bouchees Bistro at Smooth's.
Bouchees Bistro at Smooth's has an ad on LBReport.com