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03/24/2022 12:00 AMBelieve it or not, graduation day and the rays of summer are just around the corner and the 34th annual Nite in Hand (NIH) graduation event needs local support as this year marks the first return to an all in-person, all evening sleepover since the pandemic disrupted the event. Two upcoming fundraisers are scheduled to help organizers pull off this “much-beloved” tradition.
The first event, a prom dress sale at Daniel Hand High School (DHHS) on Friday, March 25, is a new effort, while the second, the Nite in Hand Auction coming on Friday, April 8 at Camp Laurelwood in Madison, is an annual favorite.
All of these parent-led efforts support Nite in Hand, designed as a fun, safe, and substance-free overnight night celebration for graduating seniors, which typically takes place the night of graduation. According to NIH, the Madison community, parents of DHHS graduates, and students all come together to make this a memorable and safe night for graduates.
NIH Co-chairs Lisa Rana and Beth O’Keefe have been working with their volunteers to ensure that this year’s event, which will mark a return to some level of “normalcy” for NIH, goes off without a hitch.
“It really is an extraordinary event. The big thrill of the night is that part of the school gets blocked off, and we have a surprise theme for the night,” O’Keefe said. “There are all kinds of activities, games, magicians, there are all kinds of activities—food, music, dancing—that gives the kids one last night together as a class. “It makes these lasting memories and it runs from 10 p.m. the night of graduation and runs to five a.m. the next morning,” she added. “This is a really anticipated event for the students and since this is the first time we’ve held it in its original form since COVID started, they are super excited for it.”
The impetus for the first fundraiser, the prom dress sale, arose out of a serendipitous partnership with Molly Rose Consignments in Madison, according to O’Keefe.
“We have our annual auction and this year it will be held April 8 at Camp Laurelwood here in Madison, and when we were out soliciting donations and auction items for that, one of our volunteers went to Molly Rose Consignments here in town and they donated to the auction and...the owner pitched us the idea to for this dress sale,” said O’Keefe.
According to Rana, the prom dress sale will be held March 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. at DHHS, showcasing a large selection of dresses for prom goers, as the ceremony season for schools begins to swing into gear. All of the available dresses will be $100, according to Rana, and are a great opportunity for those hoping to save money and donate to a great cause.
“What we need are people to come to this event. There will be raffle prizes, there will be opportunities to try on the dresses. Some are gently used, some are new, but all the dresses are priced at $100,” O’Keefe said. “We are extending our invitation to Clinton and Guilford as well. Anyone looking for a prom dress for the upcoming season will be able to find something, I’m sure. It is a great way to support a night of safe substance-free fun.”
The annual NIH Auction will be held on April 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. to raise money to help support the celebration. Rana said the NIH Auction is extremely important to students and parents.
“We think this is really important. The volunteers, like Beth, have put in countless hours to help ensure its success,” said Rana. “This is really and important event, and for me it was even more so because I didn’t want to see this event go away. We are always looking for donations, but also for volunteers as well. The tradition of safety and fun is something we want to make sure continues.”
The auction at Camp Laurelwood in Madison is a major fundraiser for the group, according to O’Keefe. It is open to the public and welcomes all patrons and will run.
“We will have a silent auction for some items and also a live auction as well, so it has something for everybody,” said O’Keefe. “It is really a fun night that brings the class together. This really kicks up the anticipation for NIH. Bring friends and come out and help us make this successful.”
For more information, to donate, or to inquire about volunteering, contact Rana or O’Keefe via the NIH email at niteinhandmain@gmail.com.