PHS Grad Nite needs donations, volunteers

Graduation may still be several months away, but Poway High School’s Grad Nite committee is already hard at work to prepare a final night of fun for this year’s graduating seniors.

Grad Nite will be June 11 this year, and will be held on Poway High School’s campus. Tickets are currently $125 and include a 2015 Grad Nite T-shirt, and the price will raise through the school year.

This year, the theme will be “Around the World in 80 Days,” which will allow the committee to re-use the Eiffel Tower prop from last year’s event.

The committee has started gathering donations but is still in need of money, volunteers and an empty warehouse space in Poway to use as a construction site for props and backdrops for Grad Nite.

Grad Nite is also looking for volunteers, not just from senior parents but all PHS parents, to help with games, food, prizes, security, the casino, and staffing of the event. Volunteers will also be needed to help with construction and preparation leading up to the event. To volunteer, contact Pilar Gross at pgpta1@yahoo.com or 858-776-9388.

They are also looking for prize donations which will be distributed to students at Grad Nite. Some suggested donations include dorm room gear, sporting equipment, musical supplies, beach-related items, Apple products and gift cards. Donations can be left at the school’s front office; please leave your name and your address on your donation.

In order to raise funds for the event, raffle tickets are now on sale for $5 a ticket or 5 for $20. Raffle prizes include a two night stay at the Grand Resort Del Mar for first place; a $250 Costco gift card for second place; and a $100 Carver’s Restaurant gift card for third place; or a golf Package including a round of golf for four at the Grand Del Mar, Calloway driver and golf balls. Raffle tickets can be purchased from Mrs. Rezai at PHS’s front office, or online at powayptsa.org/grad_nite_ticket.html. The raffle will continue through March.

The committee is also looking for people who are interested in sponsoring a game table at Grad Nite. Brass plaques are available for $100 each and will be engraved with the name of your graduating student. Plaques can be shared with siblings (past or future graduates) or friends, with up to four names allowed on each plaque. These plaques will be permanently displayed in the Casino at all future Grad Nites. Plaques must be ordered by May 15.

“This is my eighth year of involvement with Grad Nite and I am always amazed at how much fun the kids have and they really appreciate all of the effort that goes into the night. And the parents have a blast too -- its a great way to end high school,” said Gale Spitzley, one of the Grad Nite committee chairs.

For more information on Grad Nite, visit powayptsa.org/Grad%20Nite/gradniteinfo.html.