The James Logan Courier

By Jasmeen Banwait, Courier Staff Writer

James Logan's principal and student body president have joined together to prod the high school community to donate cash to help disaster victims. This time the victims are the students and staff of Enterprise High School in Alabama, which was badly damaged when a deadly tornado struck it on March 1.

On Monday, Principal Don Montoya and ASB president Catherine Start spoke over the intercom during 2nd period to get the fundraising drive started:

“As most of you know, on Thursday, March 1st, a tornado swept right through Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama, destroying the school and killing eight students. Many were left severely injured and lost their homes due to this tornado. We can only imagine the pain the students of Enterprise High School are suffering," Start and Montoya said in their joint announcement. "These students have just lost their classmates, their friends and their school. In a mere 30 seconds, their lives were changed—forever."
They said that Logan students and staff could help the Alabama school recover, as Logan has helped other disaster victims. "As fellow high school students and as members of the James Logan family, we have an opportunity to make a difference in these students’ lives. We have raised money for victims of other natural disasters such as the tsunami in Asia and Hurricane Katrina last year. We can raise money again to help students who are just like us, but are facing probably one of the greatest hardships in their lives. As a student body, we can make an impact. The students of Enterprise High School are coping with a tragedy right now. What we can do at this time is work collectively and contribute to the aid of these students."

Montoya said that the genesis of the Enterprise relief drive was a phone call from a Logan alumnus. "Last Friday morning I received a phone call from Lenae Falcone, a Logan graduate from the class of 1990. She and her husband, Ryan Falcone, Logan graduate- class of 1997, live five miles from Enterprise High School. They have witnessed the destruction firsthand; and their own children lost high school friends in the destruction at Enterprise High School."

Montoya said that Falcone told him that "As she learned of and became involved in various fund raising activities taking place to help the families who lost so much, she thought she would call us at Logan and see if we were interested in joining the fund raising activities. She thought the school she and her husband graduated from…the school she is very proud of…might have the desire to help others."

"The most efficient and effective way to contribute at this point is through cash donations," Montoya said. "Consequently, we are asking all 2nd period classes to consider contributing to a relief fund to assist these victims. Donations will go to the ‘Enterprise High School Tornado Relief Fund’ and other similar local organizations set up to provide relief to the families and schools.”

The fund raiser began on Monday and will last through Friday.

“I hope that each person is able to contribute a little bit. If we each do that then we can have a really good fundraiser and provide assistance to those in need,” Montoya said.