About $5,000 still needed for costs of Safe Grad Night

Some $5,000 more is needed by Carson High School's Parent-Teacher-Student Association to help defray the costs of this year's $32,000 Safe Grad Night.

The all-night affair is scheduled to being at 8 p.m. at the Community Center, 851 E. William St., on June 11, the same day as graduation, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the football field.

Pete Caron, general manager of Silver Oak Golf Club, has decided to help out with funding by donating sales of hot dogs, chips and drinks at the golf club Sunday afternoon to the Safe Grad Night committee.

The golf club restaurant will be closed to head golfers to the Safe Grad Night table and with their $5 donation, receive a round of food.

"All the proceeds that come from that will go to Safe Grad Night," Caron said. "If we can get the community to come out and support us, we could raise several thousand dollars."

The golf club's newly renovated 15,000-square-foot clubhouse will be open and the Safe Grad Night Table will be inside.

"We've been supporting the high school for years by giving donations for scholarships," Caron said "We saw in the paper last week that the Safe Grad Night committee was short of money. We just came up with this idea (to help)."

The Safe Grad Night evening at the Carson City Community Center includes a DJ, an open pool, a massage therapist, and free pizza and soda. Much of it is kept secret, so students are surprised. A raffle prize of $500 will be given to a student and breakfast will be served by Kiwanis in the morning.

All of it is free for graduates, but a $40 donation was requested on applications. More than $5,000 has been raised that way.

"Safe Grad Night started in 1988 in response to some alcohol-related deaths," said Karen Benson, chairwoman of the Grad Night committee. "The sheriff's office has been a tremendous help over the years in supporting Grad Night. The PTSA is spear-heading the event, but we rely on almost everybody."

Last year's event cost nearly $40,000, but that was because buses took students to Paramount's Great America in San Jose, Calif., where tickets were more expensive.

This year, students will leave the community center at 6 a.m. June 12 to head to Six Flags in Vallejo, Calif. The buses arrive home by midnight that night.

"To be honest, this is the first year we've required a deposit and we have had more kids signed up for the trip than ever before," Benson said.

The $20 deposit for a bus seat will be given back to students once they arrive at the park. Benson said charging a deposit up-front holds students responsible. Last year, about 50 students didn't show up for the trip after attending a graduation party the night before at Lake Tahoe. There are still about 20 seats available on this year's buses.

"We're hoping for a safe and sober grad night and a well-chaperoned event at the community center," Benson said. "We have lots of things going on for the students."

Amanda Benson, Karen's daughter, said she has heard little talk of parties on graduation night.

"I think (Safe Grad Night) is a great idea," she said. "I think it keeps kids out of trouble. I haven't heard about any parties at school. All I've heard is everybody is excited about Grad Night."

Up to 350 seniors are expected to attend Safe Grad Night, a large portion of the 490 seniors expected to graduate. About 250 are signed up for the bus trip to Six Flags

Benson is also looking for raffle prizes for the evening, anything from movie tickets to phone cards to gasoline gift cards. To help, call her at 841-5395.

n Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

Safe Grad Night

What: Fund-raiser for Safe Grad Night.

Where: Silver Oak Golf Club, 1251 Country Club Drive

When: noon-3 p.m. Sunday

Information: Call the golf club at 841-7000 for information.

$5 covers the cost of a hot dog, soda and chips.

What: Safe Grad Night

When: 8 p.m. June 11. Buses leave community center for Six Flags at 6 a.m. June 12 and will return by midnight.

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

Information: Call Karen Benson at 841-5395 to donate items or to register for a seat on the bus to Six Flags.