PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Two television stars are lending their names and making their way to Aroostook County to help raise funds for a region-wide service that cares for, and transports, critically ill patients in need of specialized emergency care to advanced medical care centers.
Melissa Ordway, who plays the character of Abby Newman, daughter of Victor Newman and Ashley Abbott on the daytime drama “The Young and the Restless,” and her real-life husband Justin Gaston, who portrays Uncle Jesse in the Lifetime television movie “The Unauthorized Full House Story,” will be in The County Saturday, Sept. 26, helping to raise awareness and funds for Crown Critical Care Transport. Run by The Aroostook Medical Center, Crown CCT serves all four County hospitals and staffs all patient transits with nationally certified EMTs and registered nurses, with nearly 200 patient transports annually.
“The Crown Critical Care Transport team and I are thrilled that Melissa Ordway and Justin Gaston have taken time from their busy schedules to support an invaluable service in northern Maine that has been and remains instrumental in the care and transport of Aroostook County’s most critical patients,” said A.J. Gagnon, TAMC manager of critical care services and critical transport services.
Ordway and Gaston will make their first appearance of the day at the Take Flight event at the Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle. The couple will be on hand in the WAGM-TV Women’s Pavilion inside the new General Aviation Terminal between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans. Donations will be accepted, with proceeds going to support the purchase of needed equipment for Crown CCT.
That evening, Ordway and Gaston will take part in a celebrity charity dinner in downtown Presque Isle. “Sorpreso with the Stars” will feature a social hour and four-course gourmet meal beginning at 6 p.m. at Café Sorpreso. Proceeds from the dinner, sponsored jointly by WAGM-TV, Café Sorpreso and TAMC, will also benefit Crown Critical Care Transport.
Melissa Ordway
Tickets for the evening event are $50 per person. Only 60 seats are available. In addition, 10 VIP tickets at $100 each are available for those interested in dining at the same table as Ordway and Gaston. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the TAMC Foundation at (207) 768-4350.
Aside from her current role on Young and the Restless, Ordway is best known for portraying Chloe Carter on the television series “Hollywood Heights.” She has also been seen on the big screen in many movies including “Ted,” “The Incredible Burt Wonderston,” “A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas,” “The Last Song” and “17 Again.” Her television credits include recurring roles on “90210,” “Cold Case,” “Melrose Place” and “Privileged.” Ordway has also appeared in guest starring roles on “CSI: NY,” “Entourage,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “The League.”
Ordway grew up in Snellville, Ga., where she performed in high school theater and community theater productions. She also has extended family living in northern Maine. After attending Georgia State University, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting.
Justin Gaston
Justin Gaston was born in Pineville, Louisiana. He left his hometown at the age of 17 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and music.
Gaston was a contestant on season six of “Nashville Star,” where he finished 10th overall. He first found work as a model for Armani, Diesel, GF Ferré, and other notable labels. Gaston got his first role on the hit show “Glee” and has since been seen on the HBO movie “Game Change,” “The Client List” and VH1’s “Single Ladies.” He is best known for starring on the NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” In addition to “The Unauthorized Full House Story,” he is currently working on a production entitled “The Concerto.”
