Rotary Sponsored Post Prom Party

Posted by Wayne Ryder

One of the most important events that is partially sponsored by the Carmel Rotary Club is the Carmel High School Post Junior Prom Party. It is a truly unique event that over its 20 year life has probably saved a life or, at the very least, prevented some serious accidents.

This event takes place in May of each year at Carmel High School, Carmel, NY. The purpose of the party is to try to engage 11th grade students into coming to a school sponsored, non-alcohol party. This is an alternative for Juniors to attending private parties at individual residences where there is a much greater likelihood of alcohol being consumed with subsequent alcohol related accidents and problems arising.

The event attracts about 400 Juniors each year.

The Post Prom Party has been on going for about the past 20 years and members of the Carmel Rotary Club were influential in getting it off the ground. Since the time of its inception, there has not been one serious alcohol related incident that we know about.

The Post Prom party always has a theme such a s " A Trip to Paris" a "Cruise to the Caribbean" and has activities which include food, dancing to a DJ or live band, basketball, volleyball and inflatable games, picures, food and even a comic. The kids are also supplied with free caricature portrait and a key chain. The event is entirely free to the teens.

The Junior Prom Post Prom Party is sponsored by the local Parents Association and a number of major sponsors business, including a Rotary member business.

This is where Rotary has come in to help and it is an idea which other clubs might consider sponsoring. It is an area where lives can be saved and Rotarians can make a concrete difference.

It has been said many times that all of the effort will have been worth it if one life has been saved or one serious accident has been prevented.