Every year, immediately following graduation, Morgan School graduates are treated to one last celebration as a group, thanks to Project Graduation. With the school year underway, organizers like Sara Pontillo Johnson are working hard to ensure the event is a go for the class of 2025.

Project Grad, as it’s called for short, is a committee made up of parents focused on giving kids a safe experience after graduation The goal is to raise enough money to make sure every kid is able to enjoy a fun night to celebrate the end of their high school career.

Typically, the kids are bused to a location decorated according to a theme where the new graduates can have fun. Event organizers are responsible for finding buses, chaperons, raffle prizes, decorations, and even small gifts. “It’s a drug- and alcohol-free event for all the seniors after graduation. We take car keys so everyone stays and nobody has to worry about driving. It’s one last hurrah as a group and a lot of fun for them in a safe environment,” Sara explains.

The best part about the whole thing? The location is kept a secret until the kids are on the bus on the way to the event.

However, in order to pull off the evening it takes a lot of planning and fundraisers. Sara says the group has been working since July to make next year’s event a reality.

“We need to raise between $30,000 and $40,000, “Sara says.

To meet that goal, the group is planning to launch several fundraiser initiatives over the next several months.

One upcoming event is a drag queen bingo night at Clinton Town Hall on Saturday, Nov. 9. The event is BYOB and for those 21 and older. At press time, the event is sold out. If you’re sad to miss out, Sara says the event will hopefully make a return this spring. “It’s our intent to do this fundraiser again in the spring. They did this event last year and it was a fabulous night and everyone had a good time,” says Sara.

Another ongoing fundraiser is a stuffed bread sale. Breads cost $10 each, and orders can be placed by Nov. 10 by emailing morganprojectgrad2025@gmail.com. Those interested in donating to the cause, even if there is no immediate fundraiser, can also use the email. “That email is checked and monitored several times throughout the day,” says Sara.

Any major fundraiser will be advertised on social media and through the school system Sara says. Smaller fundraisers like a bake sale at the polls on Election Day or Morgan Husky driveway prints are also going to be organized throughout the year. Those interested in a driveway print can also email morganprojectgrad2025@gmail.com

“We do fundraisers just for the seniors like the Morgan dog pound signs, which move between a different senior’s house every three to five days. It’s fun for the kids to come out the door one day and unexpectedly see it and be like, ‘Woah, how did that get there overnight?’” says Sara with a laugh.

Though pulling off project graduation is a lot of work, for Sara, she says its a labor of love doing something the kids will remember for a lifetime.

“Personally, I think it’s great to have this night for them. It’s 12 years in school together, and then you get one last night all together in a fun environment that’s safe, so nobody has to worry. It’s like one final big field trip,” says Sara.

“I grew up in town, and I went to Project Grad in the ’90s, and it’s just great to have kids know that there’s adults in the community that care about them and care about making sure they really enjoy their senior year,” Sara adds.

As an added bonus, Sara says it’s been fun to get to work with other like-minded adults in the community organizing the fundraisers.

“Getting to know each other has been fun. We all come together for this. It’s a new group of parents every year, and it’s awesome [that] a new group steps up every year,” says Sara.

Sara admits that it can be tricky organizing the events, getting needed approvals, getting insurance, and making sure the schedule of fundraisers doesn’t clash with any other events. “It’s a lot to work, but in the end, it will be worth it,” Sara says.

Sara grew up in Clinton and is a member of the Morgan School class of 1993. In fact, Sarah notes that she is a proud third-generation Clinton resident, and her kids are fourth-generation Clinton kids. In her spare time, Sara helps lead two Girl Scout groups.

“It’s something I really love. Getting to be a mentor to these young women and seeing them find themselves and grow,” Sara says.

When asked her favorite aspect of living in Clinton, Sara replies, “When I moved back to Clinton, I wanted to be a part of a community that supports each other and be closer to family. And that’s what we have here in Clinton.”