Students with special needs will get the opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated at Central Minnesota’s inaugural A Night to Remember Prom, held May 1 at STMA High School.
“We’re thrilled to be able to partner with individuals, groups, and local businesses to provide this exciting opportunity for students and young adults with special needs,” said Samantha Grimsley, one of the event’s planners. “After seeing how successful these events have been in other parts of the country, we really wanted to do something to celebrate students with special needs and their families in our own community.”
Over 200 volunteers have already signed up to help create the complete prom package, free of charge, to honored guests ages 15-24 from communities around the state. Over 50 honored guests and more than 30 student hosts have already registered for the event.
“Over half of the registered honored guests aren’t even from STMA,” one of the event organizers and Westbridge Church staff member Jenny Becker said recently.
The idea to host a prom for local special needs students came to staff at Westbridge Church after seeing a church in Wisconsin do it. “We just decided we would do it and we love that it can be a shared experience for classmates here in St. Michael-Albertville,” Becker said.
Donations have poured in from local families and businesses. From flowers being donated by the North Hennepin floral design classes, DJ services, photography by Zahler, Pilgrims Cleaners is donating dry-cleaning services and Men’s Warehouse is offering a huge discount for tux rentals.
While many donations have come in, donations are still needed, so those interested in making this an amazing night for all involved should check out the event’s website. Westbridge Church will cover any difference between donations and expenses to make sure the event is free for all guests and their families.
“The only expense for families should be shoes,” Becker explained.
The volunteer organizers envision an extraordinary prom night experience, one that goes beyond the basics. Attendees will have the opportunity to get outfitted in donated dresses and accessories or set up with a tux rental at a Dress Shop event a month before the prom – set for April 1 and 2.
On the day of the prom, honored guests will be paired with volunteer student hosts, then receive an all-star treatment as they have their hair and makeup done by cosmetologists and prom photos taken by photographers.
Guests will then be transported to the event, where they will walk along a special Red Carpet lined with people from the community who are there to cheer them on. The night will be filled with dancing, friends, photos, food, and much more – it will be a true Night to Remember.
The event, run by volunteers, is being made possible through the generosity of donors. Individuals and businesses interested in contributing financial resources, goods and services (such as seamstresses, dry cleaners, tuxedo rentals, limo services, food, gift bag items, etc.), or registering as volunteers at the event can find out more by visiting www.anighttorememberprom.org or contacting the organizers at anighttorememberprommn@gmail.com. Honored guests can also register on the website; the deadline to register is March 31.
“Ideally, we’ll be able to do this annually, because anytime you get 200 people together to volunteer their time, it’s worth it,” Becker said.