March 30, 2009
Dear parents of the Class of 2011 ~
Before we know it our students will be graduating. The planning and fundraising for “Grad Knight” starts now! Grad Knight (or Senior Party) is 100% sponsored, financed, planned and executed by the Grad Knight Committee of Newport's PTSA (parents!) Grad Knight is a safe, well supervised, memorable, all inclusive, all-night party immediately following graduation. The event runs for almost 24 hours, is drug and alcohol free and includes: all transportation to one or more venues, food, entertainment, photographs and more! Details are kept a surprise until invitations are mailed out. The celebration is historically attended by nearly 100% of the graduating class. As hard as this may be to believe today, our kids will feel incredibly close to one another the week of graduation and will eagerly embrace this one last chance to celebrate together.
The party can be expensive. Imagine a wedding for 200 people where you serve dinner, provide music and provide enough atmosphere to keep guests interested. Now double the guest list, add a second meal, and you can see that expenses can add up. An average party can be upwards of $40,000, if past parties are an indication. Tickets to Grad Knight generally go for about $100 -$125 and our goal is to keep the ticket price low so every student can attend.
The planning and fundraising for such a detailed event begins now. Our committee is established with a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising and Webmaster. Parents are the driving force behind the planning and fundraising for this event and we encourage you to get involved in these early days of planning.
Today we are kicking off our efforts with a 2009 Spring Fundraising Drive! If we start contributing now, the more likely we are able to plan a truly outstanding event for our graduates in 2011. Please consider making a cash donation today. Any denomination is greatly appreciated. If every family contributed $25 this spring, we would be well on our way to raising up to $10,000 this school year.
A tax deductible outright donation goes directly to our budget needs, and more quickly reduces the amount of fundraising that is necessary. Thank you for writing a check today made out to Newport PTSA. Mail check to: 4333 Factoria Blvd. SE, 98006 or deliver to office; Attention: Grad Knight 2011. Please consider matching funds by your company if that is available to you.
If you have any questions, have a fundraising idea, want to help in planning or want to chaperone the event, please contact Cindy Hastings (cdrhastings1@gmail.com or 425-649-0334.)
Thank you again for helping make this event special!
Cindy Hastings & Lalita Uppala
Grad Knight Fundraising Co-Chairs
Tira Villanueva
Grad Knight Chair
