BOYLE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Madison Central football players masked up and served up lunch to Boyle County first responders Tuesday afternoon.
The lunch was organized by the family of 17-year-old Emanuel ‘Manny’ Prewitt, who drowned at Herrington Lake on June 10 while swimming with friends. Family members said it was an act of gratitude to the people who helped bring Manny home and to the Danville Christian Academy staff who housed, fed and supported the family while they waited on news from rescue teams.
“It’s a good way for us to say thank you because money doesn’t thank you for that kind of stuff,” said Prewitt’s cousin Audrey Deaton. “They were fabulous to our family. They opened this place up and however late we wanted to stay it was perfectly fine with them.”
Prewitt was a rising senior and football player for Madison Central High School.
Tanner McIntosh, one of Prewitt’s friends and teammates, said he’s happy he could participate and personally thank the Danville community.
“We can’t really thank them enough. I mean they helped us all --- especially Kelly --- get some closure,” McIntosh said.
Kelly Prewitt, Manny’s mom, said she’s glad they could make the lunch happen and she’s happy to see everyone together again.
“It’s very heartwarming, to be honest with you. These boys and these parents and coaches have been my family for the past four years and they’ll always be my family but just to know that they support us and they’re here for us, it means the world to us,” Prewitt said.
Prewitt said she’s eternally grateful for the support she received from the Richmond and Danville communities, Keith P. Clark and Son Funeral Home, and Father Jim Sicko, who paid for Prewitt’s funeral.
Prewitt is now working on advocating for water safety and said she hopes to help educate communities on the importance of wearing a life jacket.
“If it saves just one person, it will be worth it,” she said.
