It has long been tradition, year after year, that students are invited back to a post-prom party at the high school with a different theme by the group Students Need an Alternate Party (SNAP).
SNAP — comprised of students, parents, and community members — plans these events to ensure students have a fun, yet safe, time on the most dangerous night of a teenager’s life.
The Spring-Ford student population has grown out of even the biggest venues within a reasonable distance for the prom, and it was announced late last year that the school would be splitting the juniors and seniors into two separate proms.
While prom is confirmed to be on April 4 at Sunnybrook for juniors and May 30th at the Sheraton At Valley Forge for seniors, post prom ideas are still up in the air.
“With the proms being split, SNAP is diligently working with the school principals and superintendent to propose a plan for the post prom event,” SNAP President Hedi Cianno said. “At this time SNAP is not sure what things will look like yet. We have discussed the options of hosting one event after the senior prom with junior students being invited or seeing if there is a way financially to offer two events.”
“With proms being split, this new change may bring about a new change for post prom being held at an offsite venue — still being determined”
Regardless of how it ends up occuring, fundraising is essential because one of the core values of this organization is for it to be at NO COST for students.
That’s where I come along. I was given the task by the parental SNAP organization to help in fundraising and creating an event students will love.
How, you may ask? Dogs.
SNAP is fortunate enough to be in partnership with Steve Griffin, General Manager of Vizion Group PR. His company held a charitable dog walk, sponsored by the National Dog Show. This event offered different charities to participate.
At the end of last year Griffin and I planned what we could do to get people to show up for the dog show. We concluded with an agenda having live music, agility dogs, make-your-pup-a-star events, therapy dogs, costume and trick contests, gift bags/raffles, and other free stuff to hand out.
The day came at last, opening at 9 in the morning. With frozen hands and the help of many the event went from scribbles on paper to reality. A lineup of many adorable dogs and their owners supported SNAP and many other charities.
Puppies galore sniffed, walked, and had a good time at a new place to mark their territory. Owners squealed while cheering on their furry friend as they completed different obstacles just as show dogs do in the National Dog Show.
The event transformed a boring Sunday into bonding time with man’s best friend, good food and music, a gift bag, and funds raised for SNAP.