Community comes together to fund Project Graduation
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It started in McMinnville 22 years ago with a specific message ? a good time can be had without drugs and alcohol. Students are expected to arrive at the Civic Center about 10 p.m. and they can stay until 5 a.m. Saturday morning. This is not a lock-in, however, parents will be notified when their senior or guest leaves Project Graduation to protect the safety and security of the program.
Many volunteers work long and hard planning the event, with work starting in June, 2005 and not letting up. Volunteers form committees and all work together to have a successful night.
?We started raising funds in June with a car wash,? said parent Carla Bush. ?We get the kids involved also. They have to work as hard as we do. We are very dedicated to the cause.?
Project Graduation is an expensive undertaking. Just imagine throwing a party for approximately 350 seniors. Many of them will bring a date to increase the number even more. The dates, however, will be charged $10 to help with expenses.
Add to the food and entertainment cost, the expense of prizes and incentives for all, and that is a big total. Most of the food and drinks are donated by area businesses. The gymnasium is filled with fun activities for all involved.
Committee members use the funds raised to purchase auction items for the seniors to bid on, things they will need either for college life or to continue on their own. Some of the items available are TVs, VCRs, DVDs, CD players, dorm refrigerators, computers and smaller items. Many of the prizes are graciously donated by businesses and individuals. The goal of the committee is to ensure every child gets a Wal-Mart gift certificate and a Project Graduation shirt. The unique T-shirt features a design created by seniors.
?Project Graduation is a fun-filled, substance-free event that all the children can come to for one last night with their friends. It also offers them a chance to win money and take home some pretty nice gifts,? said Bush.
The group has made Kroger gift cards available, where customers have the opportunity to load up their cards, making 4 percent of the total available to Project Graduation. Bi-Lo is also getting with the program, donating 1 percent of a sale, when the customer has a special card scanned when they have their Bonus Card scanned. Theresa Hill is chairing both card programs.
Pizza Hut has donated 10 percent of its sales several times throughout the year. The last chance to participate in this project is April 20.
Possibly the largest fundraiser is coming up Saturday, April 15. The annual nursery stock sale will be at Bobby Ray Memorial starting at 7 a.m. Nursery items are collected from area nurseries, displayed in the school parking lot and stay until everything is sold. Some great nursery bargains are available and customers make the sale an annual event.
?This is certainly a big undertaking, one that could not be possible without the businesses and citizens of Warren County. We feel it is a worthwhile project, and important to let our youth know we care about them and their safety,? said Bush.