Let’s help fund OHS graduation events

||| FROM AYN GAILEY for CLASS OF 2023 PARENTS & GUARDIANS |||

Every year parents and guardians of seniors at Orcas Island’s public high school are responsible for planning and raising funds to pay for the events leading up to graduation and beyond. That includes The Family Dinner, graduation ceremony decorations, a class video, class photos, and especially Grad Night. Grad Night is a nationwide event created to counter the alcohol-related accidents that used to occur on graduation night. It gives kids a post-graduation evening that is drug and alcohol free. On Orcas Island Grad Night events start at 8pm and end at 6am, with a tradition that island locals chaperone the kids from one secret destination and fun event to another.

These events are a tall order for this year’s class which is twice as big as last year’s class, with 36 kids and 43% on free and reduced lunch due to low-income levels.

The cost per student for these activities comes to $300 a student, and not all kids can afford that, especially when some are scraping together dollars for college deposits and tuition. To ensure every student in this class can attend all events, parents and guardians are fundraising by offering businesses or private individuals a chance to sponsor our kids. “Orcas Graduating Class” has been created and is a parent and guardian-led nonprofit.

For $300 a business or sponsor or private individual will receive credit on screen at Sea View theatre, a shout-out in a Chamber Blast, a mention on our class website/parent & guardian Facebook page, and the warm fuzzy feeling one gets when they do kind deeds.

If you would like to help us make sure all kids can afford the festivities, tax-deductible donations of any amount can be made at our Paypal account: https://paypal.me/orcasgradclass or checks can be made to “Orcas Graduating Class.” Please reach out to Madeline Danielson with any questions about donations at 360-421-9137 or you can reach out to Tara Anderson at orcasgradclass@gmail.com with questions about tax receipts and more.

Thank you for helping us raise these kids!