Parents may be giving their Spanish Fort High School graduates the green light to party all night long.

For the first time, SFHS graduating seniors are being invited to attend an all night alcohol and drug free celebration which is organized by parents.

“There are fatalities on graduation night and we want to keep our kids safe,� said Mary Brabner, a committee organizer. “We want to get them through their graduation night safely and have fun. We don’t want our kids to be a statistic.�

The idea is to include all seniors and not just a select group, Amy Plunkett, committee organizer said.

According to Baldwin County Schools spokesman Terry Wilhite, he was not aware of any other Baldwin County schools or communities doing something like Project Graduation.

“That’s the best idea I have ever heard,� said Connie Benefield, another committee organizer. Benefield said on her graduation night she attended chaperoned parties at friends’ homes, but that required getting in and out of cars.

“This will be one designated place they can have a safe time� she said.

The night is meant to provide an alternative to the dangerous tradition of party hopping after the graduation ceremony, organizers said as a whole. Plunkett said she learned about Project Graduation from her brother who owns a play casino company. He travels all over the country and has participated in more than 100 high school graduation events. Plunkett said she had a vested interest in planning the event as she has twin daughters, Kathryn and Kristyn, who will be SFHS graduates this year. “Ours is going to be a little bit different in that parents are going to sponsor it,� Brabner said.

It is not affiliated with the school this year, and it will be held in a separate location, she said. “We are trying to make it extravagant enough that students don’t feel like they are missing out on something, but instead we are making it special with a lot of events planned,� Plunkett said. According to Brabner, the event is going to be very structured.

The first two hours will have a DJ and dancing, followed by two to three hours of casino games where the graduates can win tokens and points to redeem prizes. There will also be a draw down. “Some kid will walk out of there with $500,� Brabner said. �The activities are designed to keep the kids moving all night long. They will never go to sleep.�

The organizers hope all the SFHS seniors will come to the event, but once they get there, they will have to stay, and they will be chaperoned by adults.

In addition, there will be nonstop food and a valet service provided. Committee organizers are also trying to book a hypnotist to put on a show at the event.

The goal of organizers is to find five business sponsors who will donate $2,000 a piece, as it takes $10,000 to put the event on, Brabner said. The cost per graduate will depend on the amount of money raised by sponsorships.

“Each kid will walk away with a prize at least worth $25,� she said. “It is their last event as a group until they do their reunion.�

The event is open to seniors only, and no dates or siblings will be allowed to attend.

With the graduation ceremonies starting at 7 p.m., the party will begin at 11 p.m. and end around 5 a.m.

"I applaud our Spanish Fort parents for this tremendous idea and effort,� Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Faron Hollinger said. “I encourage other communities to find out more about Project Graduation and to offer it in our other communities."

Plunkett said she hopes that Project Graduation will become a tradition at SFHS and get bigger every year. Parents of graduates are invited and encouraged to join the Project Graduation Committee. There is a need for prizes $25 and up, food and monetary donations.

“We need cash donations, gas cards, anything and everything,� Brabner said.

For more information, to donate, or to be a parent volunteer, call Amy Plunkett at 510-7741, Mary Brabner at 591-0695 or Connie Benefield at 583-7824.