Schools

Conard's Safe Grad Adult Pasta Party Is a Resounding Success

The 'fun'-raiser, held Saturday night at West Hartford Town Hall, raised more than $6,000 for the Conard Class of 2013 post graduation substance free celebration.

Approximately 275 people dined on pasta, salads, and desserts and danced the night away to the music of Lonesome Eddie and the Bird Dogs (and the Brass Puppies) at Saturday night's first annual Conard Safe Grad Adult Pasta Party.

A final calculation of income and expense has not yet been completed, but organizers said that the event raised in excess of $6,000, maybe even close to $7,000.

The BYOB pasta party was held in the West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium, and was intended to be a "fun and easy" way to raise money for the Class of 2013 safe graduation party which will be held the night after graduation this June. Food was donated by local restaurants, Conard staff, and parents, and a small auction as well as games raised additional funds. Conard Principal Dr. Peter Cummings willingly donated several live auction items – VIP parking spaces for graduation!

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Conard's award winning a capella group, Be S#arp, also provided entertainment, and parent Paul Turco served as emcee.

This year's organizers hope the event will become an annual tradition for future graduating classes.

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Barbara Roberts, one of the chairs of the Safe Grad Committee, said of her co-chairs, "Karen [Connal], Jill [Baral], Rose [Torromeo], and I are so fortunate to have the overwhelming supprt from the senior class parents as we plan the 2013 Safe Grad party. The parents supported the fundraiser by helping in the planning, arranged restaurant and business donations, worked at and attended the event. One of the highlights for me was to see so many parents of underclassman and alumni as well as Conard staff that came out to support Safe Grad."

Additional Safe Grad fundraisers will continue to be held until graduation, including sale of Pandora-style beads and lawn signs, and "flocking," as well as events at local restaurants. Information about upcoming fundraisers can be found on the Conard Safe Grad Facebook page.

"We didn't have a financial goal other than meet our expenses, with the hope of making some money. Our bigger goal was to have a Conard community event, inexpensive to attend and low-key, to make people aware of and motivate people to become involved with Safe Grad and to have FUN!" Roberts said.

Those wishing to make a tax deductible donation to Safe Grad can send checks payable to "Conard Safe Grad" to the school office at 110 Beechwood Rd., West Hartford 06107.

Hall High School is also planning a Safe Grad party, and information about that committee and upcoming fundraisers are available on their Facebook page.


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