A nonprofit community group needs dozens of volunteers to help organize a drug- and alcohol-free graduation event for Sahuarita and Green Valley teens.
The group, called Sahuarita Team Offers Prevention Inc., will stage its 17th annual all-night graduation event on May 22. Last year, 526 people attended the event.
Themed "Viva Las Vegas," this year's party will be at Sahuarita High School, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
The group is bringing Las Vegas to the high school — minus the vices that earned Las Vegas the nickname "Sin City."
The event will feature blackjack and roulette tables and a faux nightclub with a DJ and fog machine, along with a salon where girls can get manicures, and even a replica of the Las Vegas Strip, said Sahuarita Councilwoman Marty Moreno, who is chairwoman of Sahuarita Team Offers Prevention.
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Blackjack and roulette players will win fake dollars they can use to buy things such as extra raffle tickets. Every teen will get a free raffle ticket to enter a drawing for either a slightly used car or money. The group hopes to generate $2,000, Moreno said.
Grants including $6,000 from the Country Fair White Elephant store in Green Valley, $5,000 from the town and $2,000 to $3,000 from Desert Diamond Casino pay for the event, she said.
Though high school seniors and their guests get in free, juniors have to pay $10 each — money the group uses to help pay for next year's event.
Local merchants and community groups donate cash and items that are given out as prizes at the event, Moreno said. The Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts club donates the used car that is raffled off.
Sahuarita Unified School District Superintendent Jay St. John attends the group's graduation event every year, and he said students really look forward to it and can hardly wait to see the car.
"It gives them an alternative place to party," he said. "We think they are better off with us than they are out on their own. That's what it's all about."
Michael Blevins, a school resource officer with the Sahuarita Police Department, said it's always good to offer youths a healthy alternative to illegal substances, alcohol and even driving on graduation night.
The group needs about 60 volunteers to help plan, organize and make the directions for this year's event, as well as people who can deal blackjack or be in charge of roulette, and seamstresses who can make those people's costumes.
All volunteers will get a free shirt.
Anyone interested in volunteering can go to one of the group's January meetings, which will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Jan. 22. in the group's meeting room at Sahuarita Intermediate School, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
Sahuarita Team Offers Prevention meets at that time and place the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The group has had pizza and refreshments for volunteers at the previous two meetings and will do so as long as meetings are well attended, Moreno said, although volunteers don't have to attend every meeting.
You can help
Here's how to help organize the drug- and alcohol-free graduation event:
What: Sahuarita Team Offers Prevention Inc. meetings.
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Jan. 22.
Where: Sahuarita Intermediate School, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
For more information: Call Sahuarita Councilwoman Marty Moreno at 648-2212.
