Safe Grad organizers fear cancellation of cash-strapped event

Organizers of Carson High School's Safe Grad Night may have to cancel the all-night party if they don't receive $22,000 in donations before the June 10 event.

Raffle coordinator Teri Norgrove said the volunteers extended the fundraising deadline to this weekend after they had collected only 45 percent of the $40,000 goal.

"Because of Safe Grad, we've never had any graduating senior ever get hurt on grad night," Norgrove said.

The event was organized to keep partying teens from drinking and driving after graduation.

So far, half of all the 464 seniors graduating next month have signed up for the annual event. This year's theme is Mardi Gras. For a cover of $20, teens can play casino games for raffle tickets, watch movies or dance all night long before leaving for a day trip to Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, Calif.

"We're under pressure," Norgrove said. "We have the money for the buses, but we're getting nervous about the cost of the party."

The $40,000 price tag includes food, entertainment, raffle prizes, transportation and costs of Marine World. The big donors are the parents of the class of 2004, who gave more than $2,400, and the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, which donated $5,000. Senior parents have also donated a large amount to the event.

The raffle prize committee asks for donations and purchases items popular with teens who are about to leave home for the first time, such as televisions, mini-refrigerators, iPods and cellular phones.

"We haven't gotten a lot of prizes yet because we were worried that we would have to cancel because we haven't raised the money yet," she said.

Bill Grow, owner of Premier Motors on Highway 50 East, plans to donate $500 to Grad Night, and he is challenging other Carson City car dealers to do the same. He said the amount is equivalent to the document preparation fees for 10 cars. If other new and used car dealers did the same they could raise thousands, he said.

"I grew up in this town and friends of mine have died as a result of drinking and driving," said Grow, who has a teenager attending Carson High. "This program is great because it gives kids a safe alternative for a graduation celebration."

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

If you go

WHAT: Safe Grad Night

WHEN: 8 p.m.-6 a.m. June 10. Doors are locked at 9 p.m.

WHERE: Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

CONTACT: Teri Norgrove, raffle coordinator, at 691-1995, or send a check to: Safe Grad, P.O. Box 486, Carson City, NV 89702

What's at the party:

Disc jockey, video games, swimming, fortune tellers, movies, hypnotist, casino games, masseuse, caricature artist, raffles, snacks and breakfast