Grads’ all-night party will benefit
By Andrew Corselli, Staff Writer
One of the highlights of every girl’s teenage years is her senior prom. Project Graduation is helping to lessen the expense and pressure that comes with the experience by offering evening wear for sale at a reduced price.
The sale will be held at Hillsborough High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 5. All money raised will go towards Project Graduation, an all-night program following graduation for the entire senior class.
So far, about 300 new and used dresses have been donated; the program is aiming for 500.
”I want to get there early,” said Kristen Forti, a junior at Hillsborough High School. “We have great dresses, but if you get here early you get the best selection. I love dress shopping; what teen doesn’t? It’s fun to pick out dresses for prom.”
In addition to the dresses, the group will also sell tuxedos, which were donated by Sal’s Formal Wear on Route 206.
Still, classy evening wear at prices of $20 to $50 — a fraction of the cost of something new — is the focus of the fundraiser. Girls usually embrace the idea of getting a great buy in great shape.
”We try to focus on the idea that it’s an exchange,” said Gwen Christiana, co-chairperson of Project Graduation. “The dresses are still in phenomenal condition.”
Project Graduation, which has been held for “at least 10 years,” is an all-night event that takes place following the graduation ceremony, this year scheduled for June 22. Following the pomp and circumstance, the kids have an hour to take photos, get changed and arrive back at the school for check in. After that, they are bussed off to Dave and Buster’s arcade and restaurant in Philadelphia, where Project Graduation has been held for the last four years. They don’t arrive back at school until 6 a.m. the following morning.
”(Project Graduation) is all-night activities that they bus the kids to and they spend the entire night there,” said Ms. Christiana, who works with chair members Donna Foti and Patty Forti. “The money is raised so that every kid can go without paying. Everything is all paid for. (We do it) so that the students are not out on the streets on graduation evening, going to parties and risking their lives. They’re safe, off the roads.
”It’s a very fun-filled evening for these kids. They give away gift cards, they have a picture-taking booth and sometimes they have face painting. There are different types of foods they can eat all night long and there’s all types of activities. They really, really want to keep this going.”
About 85 percent of the approximately 600 members of the class usually attend for a final fling with friends, said Ms. Christiana.
In addition to the evening wear sale, Project Graduation holds other fund raisers throughout the year to support the $40,000 it costs. There was a Smoothie King sale where gift cards were sold in November and December; there was a 5K Resolution Run on Jan. 1; a Valentine’s Day raffle will be held on Feb. 12; there is a fashion show and basket auction scheduled for March 26; and there will be a pizza sale in early May.
”Money is really tight this year,” said Rhonda Brown, treasurer of Project Graduation.
Anyone interested in donating to Project Graduation should contact Ms. Brown at 908-874-3454 or [email protected].