DAYTON - Thanks to the ongoing efforts of local volunteers, Dayton High School seniors will once again have the option of enjoying a safe graduation party.
Involved since the first Safe Grad Party in 1989, Janette Hoffert continues to be the driving force, seeing that the necessary donations of food and money are collected, chaperones are lined up, and ensuring that enough raffle prizes are rounded up to be sure that no student goes home without at least one prize during the all-night event.
Parents, businesses and local community service clubs continue to support the event, but Hoffert, even though her three children have now graduated, is the one constant that pulls things together year after year.
"I found it needed somebody to get the ball rolling each year," Hoffert said. "We get great support from the community and business and many of the volunteer chaperones aren't even parents. They just keep doing it every year."
Hoffert said 85 to 90 percent of the seniors participate each year. No problems have occurred.
"This has been a wonderful activity. The rules were established from the start and we have never had one problem with anyone," she said. "We check each student at the door and have never noted any alcohol consumption or anything in their bags."
Held at the 24-hour Fitness Center south of Carson City since its inception, students have use of the entire facility. This year's event will be Friday.
Hoffert said students may arrive anytime after 9:30 p.m., but must be there by 11 p.m. They can check out anytime but must stay until 4:30 a.m. to be eligible for the prizes. Once they leave they are not allowed to return and parents may request to be notified when their son or daughter leaves.
In addition to feasting on pizzas, sub-sandwiches and ice cream sundaes, students may dive for dollars in the pool, scramble for money-filled balloons with their hands tied behind their backs, enter a greased pole contest, play volleyball, basketball or handball or enjoy the casino games run by the Dayton Kiwanis Club.
Hoffert said she has raised $5,100 and will still take cash donations.
"Right now we will have three $500 dollar raffle prizes, five $100 prizes and five $50 prizes. After paying expenses, any leftover money is used for the diving for dollars and balloon popping contests," she said. "We wanted to have a bungee run but didn't have quite enough money to rent it."
Dayton's first Safe Grad Night party was the result of local reaction to several alcohol related traffic deaths involving Dayton's young people. Spearheading the inaugural effort in 1989, Laura Tennant and a committee of several parents went about raising the necessary funding.
"As a parent that night I felt really good knowing what we had done and my daughter and her friends were safe," she said.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution or assist with chaperoning the Safe Grad Party for Dayton High School seniors may call Hoffert at 246-6227.