Gene and Julie Gates, hosts of the The Gene and Julie Show weekday mornings on KVIL/103.7 "Lite" FM, will host a benefit for survivors of the Aurora movie-theater shootings from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Sambuca, 2120 McKinney Ave. in uptown Dallas.
The Gateses will be joined by Megan Saunders, who was in the theater, celebrating her 20th birthday with five of her best friends, when the shootings started. Saunders and her friends were on the fifth row; all escaped safely.
A number of local media personalities are also expected to attend, including former KXAS/Channel 5 anchor Jane McGarry; Amy Vanderoef, co-host of WFAA/Channel 8's Good Morning Texas; Danielle Vollmar of KDAF/Channel 33's Eye Opener; LeeAnne Locken of Style's Big Rich Texas; Bachelorette contestant Sean Lowe (UPDATE: Lowe is no longer expected to attend); Dawn Neufeld of VH1's Football Wives; and Steve Kemble, "America's sassiest lifestyle guru," whose dishy reports are part of The Gene & Julie Show. The list is expected to grow.
KTVT/Channel 11's Teresa Frosini will also be on hand, delivering reports for CBS 11's 4, 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.
For a $20 donation at the door, you can get complimentary appetizers and half-price drinks. All money collected at the door will go directly to COVA, the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance. For more information on the event, go here; for updates, check Gene Gates' Facebook page or at the event page on Facebook.
UPDATE: This isn't directly related to Thursday's event, but Tarrant-bred comedian Cowboy Bill Martin just messaged me that a fellow comedian, Caleb Medley, was critically injured in the shootings. Medley, whose wife was expected to give birth July 22, lost his right eye, suffered brain damage and is in a medically induced coma. To donate to Medley's cause -- and to read Medley's story -- go here. (Another UPDATE: Medley's wife, Katie, has given birth to a healthy baby boy, The Huffington Post reports, and Caleb Medley is showing signs of improvement.)
