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Project Graduation organizers ask Gardner for financial support and in-kind help for 2026 event

5056401 · June 2, 2025

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Summary

Parent-led Project Graduation organizers requested city support or donations to fund a substance-free, off-site graduation celebration for the Gardner-Edgerton School District class of 2026; they seek about $45,000 total and reminded council the event is community funded and parent managed.

Jenny Adrian, a school administrator and Project Graduation board member, asked the council for city support for the class of 2026 safe, substance-free graduation event and outlined the program’s scale and costs.

Why it matters: Graduation night is cited by organizers as one of the highest-risk nights for teenagers; the event aims to provide supervised, alcohol- and drug-free activities and transportation while highlighting opportunities for city partnership.

Adrian said Project Graduation is “100% parent led and community funded,” and described the event model: off-site during the most recent year with bus transportation, supervised activities and prizes. She asked the council to consider support and said the board’s fundraising goal for 2026 is $45,000; she said the event budget the previous year was close to $40,000 and that roughly 250 students attended.

Organizers said the program sources volunteers and local fundraising efforts (for example, restaurant nights and community fundraisers) and that some on-site events have used local vendors for food and entertainment in past years. Council members discussed past city donations (a prior $3,000 donation was cited) and asked whether Project Graduation could use liquor/liability or other special funds; city staff noted state statute restrictions tied to alcohol-tax-funded programs limit eligible uses to drug- and alcohol-education purposes and that staff would review fund eligibility.

Organizers asked the city to consider a contribution and to publicize fundraisers; no formal council vote or funding commitment was made at the meeting.