June 2010 Vol. 13 No. 6

Project Grad gets a hand from Carpenters Local 751

by Anita Adams, Project Grad Santa Rosa High School, Santa Rosa, California

One of the many challenges Santa Rosa High School’s Project Grad Steering Committee faces in putting on an annual party for 400-plus seniors is setting the scene, so the graduates have a memorable time. It takes months of logistical and creative space planning by dedicated parent volunteers.

Carpenters Local 751 member volunteers assisted with party set-up and two major building projects on Project Grad work day, May 23, 2010, From left to right: Devin Sherron, Jared Soares, Josh Jones, Ruben Rivas and Brandon Sherron.

Simply put, it has to be a cool party, enticing seniors to attend immediately following their graduation ceremony. Statistically, graduation night is one of the most dangerous of the year for this age group, and Project Grad’s drug- and alcohol-free party is a guaranteed way to keep them safe through the night and into the next day. Santa Rosa High School’s Project Grad party traditionally attracts 95–98 percent of the seniors each year.

This year was no different. The Steering Committee had been working since October 2009 to ensure the party’s success. Just days away from party night, there was a critical last-minute shortage of skilled volunteers to help erect two major construction elements of the party.

A Steering Committee member contacted Phil Cohen, Field Representative for Locals 35 and 751, asking if there were members who were Santa Rosa High School alumni or currently had kids attending, and would they be interested in volunteering their time and skills? Cohen made no promises, but said he would pass the word.

And did the word get around! On the weekend prior to graduation—when all of the construction work for the event is traditionally tackled—five Local 751 members showed up at the high school to help erect the two major projects, the storefront façade in the teachers’ lounge and a huge divider in the north gym.



Brandon Sherron, NCCRC organizer and Carpenters Local 751 member, spearheaded the recruitment of the additional Local volunteers. Everyone onsite that day agreed the storefront and divider had never gone up so quickly and effortlessly. Once completed, several parent volunteers were able to decorate the two set pieces with this year’s surfer “Hang Ten” theme, while Local members assisted on lifts with hanging projects.

Needless to say, Santa Rosa High School’s Project Grad Steering Committee hopes to see Sherron and his associates back for the 2011 PG party! Programs such as these continue year after year due to the generosity and energy of both parent and community volunteers. Thanks, Local 751, for supporting the kids and community!

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