The growing cost of fun

While high school seniors have just over two months until graduation, organizers of all-night celebration parties face a looming deadline to cover costs.

Parent organizers in the Valley say they are scrambling more to raise funds, and ticket sales aren’t as brisk as in the past.

The traditional alcohol- and drug-free parties offer round-the-clock entertainment with a price tag from $8,000 to $40,000, depending on class size and plans for festivities.

Some merchants and previous sponsors can’t donate as much or not at all, say committee members, who operate various fundraisers. They said businesses are getting requests from more causes, and that there is only so much money to go around.

“We’re finding that corporate donations are down this year,” said Beth Williamson, chairwoman for East Valley’s Senior All-Knighter, named after the school’s Knights mascot. “We do appreciate everything we do receive.”

East Valley organizers plan a night at Players and Spectators for about 300 graduates, estimated to cost $28,000 to $30,000. Parents have run several fundraisers, including Christmas tree recycling, food concessions and East Valley’s Rapid Rabbit Run. Only 74 students had paid the $75 ticket price by a Nov. 1 deadline. Organizers expect around 80 seniors will need scholarships for tickets, now $85.

Many grad-night groups charge lower ticket prices to encourage early sales, then raise the fee, but organizers still see a last-minute rush. Meanwhile, expenses must be paid, and East Valley parents have scouted sales all year for bargain prizes.

“We don’t ever pressure businesses,” Williamson said. “We know everyone is struggling financially these days.

“So many corporations have moved out of the area and there are so many good causes out there,” she said. “I’ve talked to people at businesses and they say, ‘We get requests for donations every single day.’ “

Central Valley’s Grad Night chairwoman described a need for community backing because the idea is to prevent drug- or alcohol-related accidents when graduates go to celebrate.

“Parents spend months and months planning,” said CV’s Robbie Jackson. “Fundraising is becoming a larger part of it because it’s becoming so hard to get the funds. I agree that corporate donations are down, but I understand. A lot of businesses get asked for donations from so many different places.”

She added that area grocery stores are among businesses generous to CV this year.

CV’s Grad Night was originally budgeted at $42,000 for an estimated 300 out of 425 graduates, but spending was recently cut to $35,000. “The committee is adjusting the budget to a lesser amount because the money isn’t coming in,” Jackson added.

A site will be rented for activities, games, food, a disc jockey, decorations and prizes. Most CV seniors surveyed a year ago wanted their grad night location to be a surprise. As of Feb. 27, 111 CV Grad Night tickets were sold. Tickets that were $75 are now $100.

CV parents organize raffle and 50/50 drawings, a silent auction and “Shop for a Cause” discount tickets at Macy’s to benefit grad night. They also rely on creative means, including a “flocking” service, when a person can pay to have a flock of pink plastic flamingos planted in a front yard. The receiver pays a small fee for the flamingos’ removal or delivery to another home.

At U-Hi, parents expect to sell 450 tickets at $50, increasing to $60 at the door, toward a budget between $30,000 to $40,000, said chair Jan Curtis. “We’re bringing in an entertainment group, games, a hypnotist, dancing and activities all night long. That takes money, and even with parents paying for tickets, that won’t take care of everything.”

U-Hi organizers have held bake sales and sold T-shirts. They plan a yard sale and benefit golf tournament. “Last year, they were able to get business sponsors per hole. This year, we are having a little bit more trouble getting sponsors,” Curtis said. “We find that if you contact a person in a business who has a child in the school, the reaction tends to be very good.

“Overall, we’re just about in the same place this year we were at this time last year.”

Curtis added that she believes families are feeling a financial pinch, as are businesses.

“We’re always talking about what else can we do,” she said. “Everyone’s trying to do fundraisers.”

West Valley’s chairwoman, Nancy Nelson, said a dance and golf tournament will help toward the estimated $8,000 for the graduates’ All-Nighter at Triple Play. Nelson expects around 120 will attend. Only about 50 students had bought $50 tickets by early March.

Normally, parents raise most of the money to cover grad-night costs by selling lattes at school, but that was derailed this year by West Valley’s remodeling.

“We are hoping the golf tournament will pull us out,” Nelson said. “It is difficult because businesses are being hit by every school left and right. Every school has auctions, every school has carnivals, and when you call, a lot of them say they’ve already given all they can. I just know that fund raising is hard and it takes a lot of hard work.”