Committee Contacts

The Project Graduation Party is completely run by volunteers.  We invite ALL parents to join us in the planning of the party.   Do you like to shop?  Maybe you love entertainment and want to plan events for the night.  Come join a committee.  Contact a committee chair if you would like to assist in the organization of this incredible party!

Listed below are the Committee Chairs for Project Graduation 2023

PROJECT GRADUATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:  Chair(s) - Gina Watson & Lynne Finn

In charge of overseeing the event and all committee chairs.  Hosts monthly meetings and filters any questions from committee chairs.  Organizes the details of the party from start to finish.

LARGE SPRING FUNDRAISER – March 2023:  Chair(s) – Gina Watson & Lynne Finn Subcommittee: Darlene Beckert, Huong Do, Shari Greco, Jen Passaro, Chelle Grande

Coordinates the annual BIG fundraising event and raffle. Solicit parents for approx. 15-20 large auction gift baskets or items. Secure a location to host the event and work with the committee chairs on the "theme" for the night.  Work with the Publicity Chair to promote the event.

DECORATIONS:  Chair - Chelle Grande Subcommittee: Lynne Finn

Develops ideas, coordinates, and organizes a theme for decorations at Big Sky (party venue). Solicits and gathers childhood photos of graduates used to decorate the hallways at Big Sky. Directs a group of volunteers to decorate the venue graduation day. 

PRIZES:  Chair(s) – Kate Gorman Subcommittee:  Staci Gerace

Responsible for soliciting businesses, companies and purchasing prizes as required for the student raffle. Organizing prizes and schematic for set up the morning of the party. ALL SENIOR PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTEND PROJECT GRADUATION AFTER SET UP.

ENTERTAINMENT:  Chair – Kim Devine Subcommittee:

Coordinates entertainment for the night of the party including the hiring of production company (Boppers), DJ, hypnotist, and other activities. Responsible for gathering all supplies needed for games not provided by the production company. Meets the production company representative for set-up the morning of the party to assure all games and activities that were ordered arrive, are in place and all other materials needed are at Big Sky.

EQUIPMENT:  Chair-   Michelle Keough Subcommittee:

Responsible for organizing, obtaining and transporting all necessary equipment for the night of the party – tables, chairs, etc. – including pick-up, set-up, take down and return of the equipment. Some of the items need to be picked up from buildings or schools in town. 

FLAMINGO FLOCKING:  Chair – Kim Devine Subcommittee: Kim Guberman

Beginning in March/April, “flockers” place birds on lawns throughout town and remove when contacted with another address for placement and a donation. Chair maintains a master list of addresses “flocked” to avoid duplication and collects donations from flockers on a weekly basis. Should acquire at least 4 Flockers familiar with their area of town.

FOOD / DRINKS:  Chair – Shari Greco Subcommittee:  MaryLee Austin

Contact Pizza truck to secure a date in June based on graduation.  Be the point person when communicating with the pizza truck.  Coordinate small bottles of water for the graduates during the party. 

PARKING:  Chair - Steve Kay

Responsible for the orderly parking of graduates’ cars the night of the party. Distributes raffle tickets to carpool drivers for gas card drawing. Parking duties end when all graduates have arrived for the evening (about 10:30pm - 11pm).  Calls businesses near Big Sky to ask if we can use their parking lot for volunteers the night of the party.

PUBLICITY:  Chair - Shari Greco

Post fundraisers, meeting dates, and all communications on Facebook (Farmington CT Moms page) and Instagram (@fhsprojectgrad2023). Connect with Mr. Chris Loomis at FHS for any displays on the digital sign at the HS entrance.

SENIOR GIFT:  Chair – Stephanie Brennan

Develops ideas for senior gift each grad receives at the end of the party -gift card, mug, etc. Research options and pricing to present to full committee. Serves as point of contact for gift delivery and distribution.

SENIOR T-SHIRT:  Chair - Staci Gerace

Designs Senior Class of 2023 T-shirt (working with Andrew Minor and FHS Art Honor Society). Creates Google Form to collect Shirt size from senior class. Assists in preparing senior bags that are distributed to all seniors the first graduation rehearsal.  Work with Ursula Fraley, Graduation Coordinator at FHS.

VOLUNTEERS:  Chair - Cathie Martin Subcommittee: Michele Murtari

Recruit underclassmen parents and community volunteers to chaperone the party. Identifies a “Party Manager” (preferably a junior-class parent or alumni parent) that will oversee the party operations graduation night. Works with other chairs to identify their volunteer needs and assigns volunteers to specific tasks, areas, and shifts the night of the party. In coordination with the Project Graduation Chair, will hold a volunteer meeting several weeks before the party to brief volunteer chaperones on what to expect that night. 

PARENT / BUSINESS LETTERS:  Chair - Diane Bigelow

Assist with drafting and mailing fundraising letters to local businesses & parents asking for donations.

LAWN SIGNS:  Chair – Cristina Rodrigues

Coordinate production and distribution of graduation lawn signs parents can purchase showing support of their HS grad.

JB SPORTS GEAR:  Chair – Karen Powell

Work with Jen Hogan to determine items we can sell with the Farmington logo and process for delivery. Certain percentage of sales is given to PG.

WEBSITE:  Chair - Chad Williams

Create/Design website to use during the planning of project graduation.  A site that will house all forms and any information pertaining to project graduation.

TREASURER:  Chair – Meredith Bartholomay

Work with Town Hall to deposit and obtain reimbursements.  Tracks all cash receipts and disbursements related to all fundraising activities.  Coordinates with Town Student Activity Account Supervisor for everything related to PG.

DONOR BUCKETS:  Chair - Ali Kiniry

Set up small donation buckets at checkout registers at various businesses throughout Farmington.  Collect the cash donations once a week or any given time frame coordinated with the business.

THANK YOU NOTES:  Chair - MaryLee Austin

Writing thank you notes and mailing out to businesses thanking them for their support in Project Graduation.

RESTAURANT NIGHT OUT:  Chair - Laura Rizzo

Coordinating with various restaurants in Farmington to host fundraising nights.  PG will receive a percentage of sales from the evening.  Coordinate with the Publicity chair to be sure the fundraising night is being seen on social media.

FOOTBALL SQUARES:  Chair - Wendy Ives

Super Bowl (Feb) squares will be sold to anyone willing to take a chance on winning some money.  PG will collect a percentage of the sales.

JUNIOR PARENT VOLUNTEER:  Chair - Stacey Murphy

A junior parent(s) shadows the current committee all year with possible plans to chair the event next year.  They attend monthly meetings and are the point of contact on the night of the party.

5 CHURCHES FUNDRAISER:  Chair - Darlene Beckert

A fundraiser that has been successful in the past is hosting a night at a brewery.  Work with a brewery to secure a date for the evening of our fundraiser.  Work with Publicity Chair to promote the event on social media.