Dance tonight away at ‘Snow Ball Cotillion Dance’

PALMER — For a second year, Colony High School’s student government has organized an all-schools Cotillion Dance for juniors and seniors as a fundraiser to benefit a local nonprofit.

Student government vice president, senior Rebekah Diotte, said after some research and presentations from various local nonprofits, The Children’s Place was selected as this year’s beneficiary.

“Everyone was really excited and passionate to help these guys out,” Diotte said. “We knew they were the one.”

The Children’s Place Executive Director Paula Jones said Jesse Magnum from CHS contacted her over the summer and asked for information about the organization as part of that research.

Jones said she also went to Colony High and gave a presentation to students about The Children’s Place to student government and the student leadership class. She said she was impressed by the students’ thoughtful questions.

“It is clear that these absolutely are the future leaders in our community,” Jones said.

The theme for the Cotillion Dance is Snow Ball, Diotte said. The dance is from 8 to 11 p.m., Jan. 31 at the Palmer Train Depot. Tickets are $20 at the door, or can be bought online for $15 from thechildrens-place.org.

She said the goal this year is to raise $10,000 to donate to the nonprofit that helps Valley kids.

Modeled after Children’s Advocacy Centers around the country, The Children’s Place opened in March 1999 to “provide a child-friendly, neutral facility where professionals from many agencies involved in the evaluation, investigation and treatment of child abuse meet to coordinate and bring their services to the child and their family,” according to its website. The nonprofit serves children ages 18 and younger living in the Mat-Su Borough and outlying areas served by the Mat-Su Office of Children’s Services.

Jones said about 60 percent of the organization’s budget comes from grants and the remainder from private donations, such as the gift Colony High students have planned.

She said the donation will be used for operation expenses, such as providing medical exams for children or mental health services.

Diotte said the goal is to raise $10,000 for The Children’s Place. Last year’s beneficiary was the MY House organization.

Toward that goal, she said R&R Productions has donated a DJ to spin music for the event for a second year.

“R&R Productions is so generous for donating their time last year and this year,” Diotte said. “They are doing it for free. Just for the sake of the charity.”

About 175 students attend last year’s dance, which took place at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center.

This year the Cotillion Dance was relocated to the Palmer Depot, which will make it easier to decorate the venue and should add to the personal feel of the event, Diotte said.

Don’t let the word “cotillion” put you off.

“It’s not super fancy,” Diotte said. “It’s semi-formal like any other high school dance.”

Unlike other school dances where you need a permission slip to attend if you aren’t a student there, this dance is for all juniors and seniors in the Mat-Su Borough.

And moving the dance to the depot will make it easier to chaperone, Diotte said. Since Colony High is organizing the dance, they will provide the chaperones, she said.

Admission price also includes free homemade desserts baked fresh by members of student government; or their mothers, as the case may be. Diotte said sweet treats include cookies, cupcakes and brownies. Water also will be provided.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.