Oakdale Sober Grad Night is right around the corner. The all-night safe and sober celebration event for Oakdale High School graduates follows graduation on Friday, May 28 and runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The event is held at Sierra View Elementary School.
Last year, 198 graduates attended the all night party. This year well over 200 graduates are expected. There will be music all night with Sound Express, California Casino Nights, electric go-carts, carnival games, airbrush tattoo artists, caricature artists, outdoor inflatable games, raffle prizes, cash giveaways, lots of food, and a lap top computer will be given away.
“Having a sober grad night event in Oakdale is extremely important because having a safe and sober celebration venue not only keeps the graduates safe, but the community as well,” said SGN advisor Dale Farley. “The SGN board needs (the community’s) help to make this happen.”
Farley added that donations of money as well as good and services for raffle prizes are needed to make the event a reality. Donations for scholarship tickets are also welcome for graduates who need financial assistance to attend.
New this year is the ability to make donations and all ticket purchases conveniently on Oakdale Sober Grad Night’s website, www.ohsgradnight.com, using PayPal. The service is free. Ticket cost is $50, which has not been raised in four years. Farley said that the SGN board works to raise funds year-round to keep the ticket price as low as possible for the families and to have scholarship tickets for those students who need them.
Farley reported that there have been many exciting changes for SGN this year. The organization has grown significantly over the last few years and it was decided to leave the original incorporation umbrella of OHS’s Academic Boosters. Oakdale Sober Grad Night is now a fully incorporated Public Benefit Nonprofit Charity with tax-exempt status of its own. All donations made to SGN are tax deductible.
“We have always appreciated the wonderful support that we have enjoyed from Academic Boosters, but it was time that SGN was incorporated in its own right,” she said.
She added that Sober Grad Night is also now a member of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce and that the SGN board is looking forward to participating in future Chamber events and activities.
To raise money for the Sober Grad Night event and provide a different option for purchasing formal gowns, The Prom Closet twice-a-year fundraiser will be hosted by Tags Consignment Boutique, 1220 East F. St., Oakdale on Friday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Farley said that The Prom Closet has a good selection of gently used, beautiful, full-length prom dresses that will be sold for $20. All proceeds from The Prom Closet will go toward funding SGN.
Additionally, SGN has a year-round account at Tags, where seasonal, clean clothing in good repair may be dropped off. SGN will receive 50 percent of the sales for clothing donated in its name. Clothing that is not accepted or does not sell, will be donated. Any questions regarding clothing for the SGN account at Tags can be directed to Tags’ owners, Sandy Reed or Tanya Bruchaek at 845-9312.
Farley said that volunteers are needed for the event set up and at SGN itself, as well as donations. For anyone who would like to help or for more information, contact Farley at (209) 918-1848, or contact the SGN board at www.ohsgradnight.com.
