In 1987, three local teens died in a tragic car accident on the night they were celebrating their graduation from high school.

Ever since, there have been no local fatalities of teens on graduation day, and a group of local volunteers wants to keep it that way. Although its still five months away, volunteers and committee board members have set the wheels in motion for Grad Nite 2008, the 20th annual safe and sober all-night celebration for local high school graduates.

Project Graduation Inc., is made up of community leaders, business owners, educators, law enforcement officers and Napa County residents.

Every year since 1988, about 700 high school grads have gathered together for a night of music, food, fun, games, carnival rides, contests and much more. They are overseen by more than 300 volunteer chaperones.

Although Grad Nite 2008 is set for June 11 at Napa Valley College, the push is on now for donations and volunteers, according to board member and California Highway Patrol Officer Jaret Paulson.

"It costs about $80,000 to put on the event. There is a lot involved in making Grad Nite a success," Paulson said. "No one is paid. It's all community-based volunteers. It what the community gives to our young people to make sure they have a safe and fun place to celebrate their graduation. CHP is behind it because it reduces kids' drinking and driving."

Project Graduation Inc. is asking the community and businesses to step up with cash and food donations.

"We also need construction crews to help build sets. And we need prizes for the raffles and the casino games," said board member Jennifer Stewart, who is a development coordinator with the Napa County Office of Education. "All donations are tax deductible. All the money raised goes directly to the event."

The event sprawls over the NVC grounds, with carnival rides and games spread on a portion of the parking lot. A dance floor is set up on the quad, movies run non-stop in a small theater, an island-themed casino fills the cafeteria and students can have their hair or nails done or take their chances with a hypnotist, whose act has been a wee-hours highlight of Grad Nite for years.

Food and drink is available all night, as are medical services. Students pay $50 to attend the party. Once they check into the event, they cannot leave unless picked up by a parent. Volunteers patrol the grounds to make sure the students are OK and that no one is breaking in or out of the party.

"This year we have to replace all the wood paneling in the parking lot," said Stewart, referring to the main decorations for the event. "It's really old and falling apart. It's not going to be cheap to replace the paneling."

Sad origins

Grad Nite is a positive result of a terrible night in June 1987. Three local high school grads were heading to the coast to celebrate the culmination of four years of high school.

They were southbound on Highway 29, near First Street, when the car they were riding in crossed the through the oleander bushes in the center divide and hit an oncoming car, killing the three teens.

Former Napa Police Chief Dan Monez vividly remembers the fatal accident.

"It happened in June, a few months before I became police chief. But it really traumatized the community. Everyone realized that we needed to do something for our kids to keep them safe in situations like this. A committee was formed and Grad Nite just grew from there," Monez said.

"The first time we threw the event we had it at the Redwood Middle School gym and it cost about $30,000. That didn't work out very good. At first we also had a Grad Nite for Napa High and another one for Vintage. All that work just about killed us. So, the next year we combined them, and a few years later we included all of the valley's schools. We have never had any serious incidents."

Staging the event takes a few days of hauling in and setting up decorations, as well as putting in place the First Aid center, poker tables, fencing around the party zone and supplies. On Grad Nite, volunteers fill a variety of roles, from card dealer and line cook to security guard and coat check valet.

In addition to the monumental task of putting on the event, there is also the day-long clean up afterward.

"We have been fortunate to have generous volunteers who cheerfully donate their time," Paulson said. "Anyone can volunteer. You don't have to be an artist or have any special skills. Just a willingness to make Grad Nite a place the kids want to be."

Anyone interested in donating to Grad Nite may call Jennifer Stewart at 259-5949 or mail donations to Project Graduation Inc., 1325 Imola Ave., Suite 326, Napa 94559.