You would think astronauts make pretty good money, so why a fundraiser? A snip from the story on CNN:
COCOA BEACH, Florida (AP) -- About 70 diners attended a fundraiser at an Italian restaurant Sunday night for a NASA astronaut charged with attempted murder.
Silvestro's restaurant, which was bombarded with criticism after word spread that they were holding the fundraiser, plans to donate the dinner proceeds to Lisa Nowak's family.
Restaurant co-owner Tony Bless told Melbourne's Florida Today newspaper that he thought it was the right thing to do for Nowak, who made a positive impression on his staff when she dined there last summer.
"We stand by our friends in time of need, and it's a time of need," he said. Bless said he's also gotten supportive calls and e-mails from as far away as Italy.
...
Well it was sort of an "unexpected expense" for someone about to be a single mom. Naw, that sounds like an excuse.
In Cocoa, the astronauts are much-loved like they are here in Houston - except that here, Oefelein is among the corps, too - but not there. And Shipman isn't, either, tho a Floridian and a support person to the NASA corps.
I have to believe most of the people who attended were thinking mainly of the children. If Nowak hires a good enough attorney, perhaps a lot of the detailed crud will be kept out of the public eye.
(Yeah, I know - but at least a good lawyer can fight the other good lawyers who will trash Lisa.)