Fundraising Efforts Continue For Class Of '23 Sober Grad

With the major fundraiser – the annual tri-tip drive-thru dinner – hosted this past weekend, officials with the Sober Grad committee have officially kicked off their fundraising efforts for the Class of 2023. The goal is to put on a safe and memorable graduation night party for Escalon High School seniors, and the tri-tip dinner provides a solid base from which to work. “We sold 200 dinners, pick up was 4:30 p.m. to 6 pm. here at El Portal,” Sober Grad committee member and BBQ coordinator Renee Snow said on Saturday morning, April 1, as crews came in to prepare the meat and begin the process of putting together the dinners, designed for a family of four. “This is the only fundraiser we do for the Sober Grad night.”

Organizers count on donations from the community to help as well, said Snow, with cash, gift cards and other items being sought. “Not a lot of high schools have the luxury of doing this and our high school is one of them that does it super big for the kids,” explained Snow. “It takes a lot of people, a lot of money to run it, and do it and it gives a safe night for these kids and it’s something they look back on … I have people who reach out to me who buy tickets and go ‘I remember when I went to my Sober Grad’ and we just need to remind people how important it is to continue donating, to support this.”

Between now and graduation, residents and businesses in the community are encouraged to donate to the cause, as the committee’s goal is to make sure every student attending the party on their final night of high school goes home with something, whether it’s cash, a prize, or both. “There are schools that don’t have the funding for it anymore and luckily, we live here, in this community where there are so many that want to support this cause but it takes your support, it takes everybody’s support,” Snow said. She added that they had to increase the ticket prices this year as a result of everything they put in the dinner also costing more, including the tri-tip, which she said was almost £1,000 more than last year.

Not having the drive-thru event wasn’t an option, even with the increased cost for the dinner for four, which included the seasoned tri-tip, four baked potatoes, salad and bread. “Instead of us saying let’s not do it this year, let’s hold off, we’ve got to continue doing it because whatever money we make on it, it’s to help support that Sober Grad night,” Snow added. Fellow committee member Krysten Lial said those that want to contribute can send checks to Escalon High School, Attention: Sober Grad, with the checks made payable to Escalon Sober Grad.

Letters seeking support have gone out to many businesses that have donated in the past and Lial said they have gotten some back, but overall, the donations are running behind where they have been at this time in the past. “After COVID, we took a huge hit in donations, it just is what it is,” Lial admitted. Snow said last year, when her son was a senior, she attended the event for the first time, after having been involved in fundraising but never going to the Sober Grad itself.

“Seeing the end result with my own eyes was amazing,” she said of the end of year party, which is staged on the EHS campus and features several hours of fun for the senior class. “All the food that’s there, all the games, definitely all the prizes that those kids win, and they always want each kid to leave with something.” Lial said the next effort will be to solicit for gift cards, which are sought at the £10 level, with the goal of each attendee leaving with at least one gift card and some cash, which they get to pick out from a ‘mystery cash box’ on arrival at the Sober Grad event. Students who helped out at the drive-thru dinner will receive some credit, as their ticket to attend will be less expensive.

Seniors turning out to assist were Shelby-Lynn Kessler, Johanna Romero, Cassandra Sanchez, and Clare McPherrin.

Lial reiterated that, between the gift card and mystery money, students are guaranteed to at least leave Sober Grad with £20, and tickets are typically £40 so they get half their money back.

“It’s a great, safe night of memories,” Snow concluded.

edinburgh-zoo listed on couponmatrix.ukhandles4doors listed on couponmatrix.ukkate-spade listed on couponmatrix.ukmichael-kors listed on couponmatrix.ukparcelhero listed on couponmatrix.ukthe-royal-mint listed on couponmatrix.uk
edinburgh-zoo listed on couponmatrix.ukSetting unbeatable standards in its peer group, Edinburgh Zoo is the UK’s premier city centre living animal attraction. Set in stunning, sloping parkland just a few miles from the Scottish capital’s historical centre, this internationally-renowned facility is home to all manner of rare species. Your Edinburgh Zoo discount code will bring you face to face with chimpanzees, sun bears, Indian rhinos, the UK’s only koalas and the first giant pandas to be bred in the country in 17 years.
handles4doors listed on couponmatrix.ukOpen up to a world of savings with one of Groupon's Handles4Doors discount codes. You'll gain discounted access to a top supplier of architectural ironmongery which stocks door handles, locks, hinges and knobs to both trade and domestic customers. Their online shop is home to thousands of door fixtures and fittings in a wealth of styles, finishes and designs from top brands - all with a focus on quality, style and performance. Browse the selection and pick up an item for less with one of our Handles4Doors promo codes. The family-run Handles4doors started off life in a small, rustic warehouse in the Farnham countryside, but their success in recent years has taken them to a larger professional warehouse in Fleet. Their team pride themselves on product knowledge and quality service and are always happy to help. With over 50 years industry experience between them, their sales and technical team can give reliable, up-to-date advice and recommendations, or customers can visit the Handles4 Doors showroom for hands-on advice. Handles4Doors caters for both small home improvement projects and commercial projects on a large scale, and through their huge network of suppliers and contacts are able to source specific products and information that might not be available on the site. Since the launch of their first online shop in July 2007 Handles4Doors has gone from strength to strength, and they currently work with some of the leading manufacturers in the ironmongery and homeware industry including Urfic Door Handles, Hafele, Hettich, Pro Décor, Carlisle Brass, Kirkpatrick and Fortessa. So no matter whether you're after contemporary, traditional, rustic or classic style handles, check out Groupon's Handles4Doors voucher codes and kit yourself out in no time.
kate-spade listed on couponmatrix.ukWonder into Kate Spade and you'll be stepping into another world. A world of artisanal fabric lines and stitching par excellence. A world of design achievement meeting practical utility. A Kate Spade designed handbag, shoulder bag or bangle will elevate you, your outfit and your mindset, and you can save on these high value picks with a Kate Spade discount code courtesy of Groupon. It's your wardrobe, so make it the best with a Kate Spade saving from us.
michael-kors listed on couponmatrix.ukGive your look a dose of Michael Kors magic and kit yourself out in award-winning designer fashion from head to toe. With the help of a Michael Kors discount code from us, you could indulge in a guilt-free spree of on-trend clothing and luxury accessories. From printed dresses and effortlessly cool jumpsuits to hooded jackets and razor-sharp suits, Michael Kors offers men and women alike the chance to up their style game with edgy designs and buckets of attitude.
parcelhero listed on couponmatrix.ukSend your parcels in the smartest way possible with ParcelHero, and allow this delightful delivery service to save the day! Grab a ParcelHero discount code from us to cut the cost of sending gifts to your loved ones or sending out products to customers. You’ll soon find that superhero speed and efficiency doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! With reliable couriers like DHL, TNT and UPS on the books, you can count on ParcelHero to get your goods from A to B at a very pocket-friendly price.
the-royal-mint listed on couponmatrix.ukFor over a thousand years, The Royal Mint has been trusted with the production of coins in the UK, making it one of the oldest institutions in the world. Not only do they produce coinage for the UK, they are trusted to produce currency for 60 other countries too. Use a Royal Mint promo code and enjoy savings on their massive range of specially minted coins and bullion or take a trip to the visitor centre to see the product of over British ingenuity, craftsmanship and precision.