NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
630 66TH STREET
NIAGARA FALLS, NY 14304
Seven years ago two teachers at Niagara Falls High School discussed their mutual concern about student safety on prom night. Tragedies that have occurred in communities around the nation, the knowledge that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for teens, and firsthand knowledge of just how heady a time prom night is raised a flag for them. Teens talking about heading into Canada after prom, getting hotel rooms, and other kinds of activities seemed questionable at best to the teachers, who decided something ought to be done before our one of our community’s youth found himself or herself living forever with the consequences of a bad decision on prom night.
And they set out to take care of the problem.
Since then, each year with the help of parent and community volunteers, Jim Hartung and Chris Farino have raised between $10,000 and $15,000 to throw a party at the high school that has become so popular, it is more anticipated than the prom itself. Mechanical bulls, bounce houses, Velcro walls, fortune tellers, and free food are just some of the perennial attractions. Music, basketball, smoothies, dunk tanks—they bring in everything they can think of to attract students, who are locked in the building from 11:43 p.m. to 3:43 a.m., no coming and going, no exceptions.
Students do not have to attend prom to attend the Post Prom Party, which is open only to Seniors and their dates and completely free.
In addition to donations of cash used to pay vendors and of gifts used for door prizes, about $5,000 to $6,000 of the funds come from ads purchased in the Commemorative Graduation Program Book, distributed at graduation in June. The sweat equity comes from volunteers.
Planning meetings are taking place now for the 2013 Post Prom Party and are held at NFHS in the faculty cafeteria at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays: Feb 27, March 13, April 17 May 1, 15, 22 & 29 and June 5; also Thursday June 6. June 7 is the party itself.
Information on the graduation program book can be found on the District’s website, www.nfschools.net or by calling Judie Glaser at 286.4245.
For Hartung and Farino, who are not compensated for the hours upon hours of work they give to make the party happen, it is a labor of love.
“We want the kids to have a good time, in a safe environment, and for everyone to be A-Okay to collect their dipomas in June,” Hartung said. “So far, so good.”
In addition to funds (checks can be made payable to NFHS Student Council), the PPP Committee also seeks door prize contributions like gift cards, MP3 players, dorm needs and more. Contact Hartung or Farino at NFHS by calling 278-5800.
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Contact:
James Hartung, Chris Farino, 278-5800
