Location, Date, Partners and Volunteers!

We have a location, date, logo and partners - plus hundreds of volunteers!
Slowly but surely, our Joy Prom planning is coming together. It's been a very productive week for the Joy Prom committee and we're thrilled to announce that we've received our first donation - a MAJOR donation!

The Crowne Plaza San Francisco Mid-Peninsula has generously agreed to let us host Joy Prom at their beautiful property in Foster City. The location is gorgeous, with a waterfall and palm trees in the lobby and top-rate ballrooms. They're not only giving us the space, they're also providing all the food for a sit-down dinner for 300 people! They're donating their banquet/catering services and we couldn't be more excited about it! The man who owns the hotel is an absolute inspiration and an amazing example of someone who knows what it means to love thy neighbor as thyself.

The Bay Area's first Joy Prom will be held on Sunday evening, May 16, 2010. Now that we finally have a date confirmed, we were able to put the finishing touches on our new logo. The logo is a collaborative effort by three people who, to date, have never corresponded with one another - Kevin Wansley, Sabrina Domine and Eric Bratcher. None of them are even official members of the Joy Prom planning committee, but they all know someone who is and were inspired to pitch in and help out. It's folks like this that are going to play a major part in making this event a success.

Additionally, both campuses of Central Peninsula Church (one in Foster City, one in Millbrae) held Ministry Fairs recently and gave members of their church body the opportunity to get involved in Joy Prom, either by doing volunteer work or by donating goods or services. Nearly 100 individuals signed up, plus we got support from the Children's, High School and Twenties groups that meet there. So now we have more than 200 potential volunteers! Those that belong to the Twenties are likely going to be the escorts for the 150 honored guests.

And speaking of guests, we've been in touch with different special needs groups throughout the Bay Area and we've partnered with two amazing organizations. The 2010 Joy Prom will be for guests referred to us through the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area and through United Cerebral Palsy of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Because space is limited, we'll only be able to accommodate guests from these two groups our first year. Who knows what we'll be able to accomplish in years to come!

For now, we're focused on planning for our inaugural event. If you know someone who would like to donate any prom-related goods or services, please have them contact Kim at joypromcpc@gmail.com

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