Carson, Dayton raising money for sober graduation

Organizers are seeking the public's help in funding sober graduation parties for this year's seniors from Carson and Dayton high schools.

Carson City started holding a Safe Grad Night shortly after Brenda Collings graduated from Carson High School 25 years ago.

She remembers a huge party in Fuji Park with a live band her graduation night.

"When kids got too drunk, the police took their keys away," she remembers. But she saw the dangers first-hand when she lost several classmates to drinking and driving.

For the past three years, she has served on the Safe Grad committee, serving as chairman the past two.

"We've come a long way," she said. "I have a real passion for this."

The committee's hallmark fundraiser, started last year, will be the Safe Grad Golf Tournament at 1 p.m. April 18.

"We're doing OK, but we need more teams to sign up," Collings said.

Dayton High School's Safe and Sober Graduation committee also is looking for community support.

Committee member Joan Hardin said the Pizza Factory in Dayton, 185 Highway 50 East, will host a fundraiser April 23, donating 10 percent of all proceeds to the cause.

But more still will be needed, Hardin said, to reach the goal of $11,000. Each year, Dayton High School's seniors are given the option to board buses after graduation to go on an overnight trip to the recreation center in Incline Village, where there is an indoor pool, basketball courts and video games.

Hardin said there also will be other activities including a bounce house and free giveaways from local businesses.

"Anything anyone wants to donate to the raffle, we're more than happy to take," she said. "We want to make this a night the students will remember."

Otherwise, she warned, they may find their own ways to make it memorable.

"For graduation night, kids feel like they have to do something momentous," Hardin said. "Unfortunately, that something momentous is usually who can throw the biggest keg party in town."

Carson High School's Safe Grad begins at the Carson City Community Center with a variety of activities and culminates with a bus trip to Discovery Kingdom Six Flags in Vallejo, Calif.

"It's gotten to where the kids look forward to it and expect it," Collings said. "We don't want to disappoint them."

She also will host a Cut-a-Thon at her hair salon, Rapunzel's, on May 2 where customers can get a $10 haircut, and all of the proceeds go to Safe Grad.

"I think it's a great thing for the kids, and I'd hate to see it die," Collings said.