Forty years ago, an initiative was launched by the Illinois State Police to create an event that kept students entertained, locked in so to speak, and most importantly safe after prom after 12 teens died in a crash in Maine in the late ‘70s.
Terry Daly remembers going to the conference hosted by the Illinois State Board of Education, along with other state agencies and the Illinois State Police, and receiving all the information, and she came back with an idea how to get it started. She enlisted the help of Tamra Piper first and then they added Mickey Modolo, Marty Mundt, Marla Bettenhausen, Eileen Eschbach, and Candy Marevka.
From there a dream team was formed to create the first Peotone Post Prom, but it was no easy feat.
They had to fundraise and do all the decorating and come up with games and prizes.
The budget was bare bones at best, but they got everything they could. Mickey Modolo recalled hosting bakeless bake sales, where all the ingredients would be donated, and it was up to this group of dedicated moms to work their magic in the kitchen and sell the baked goods everywhere they could.
Fundraisers included selling those baked goods, car washes, a fashion show, and sponsorships. Parent volunteers often went door-to-door encouraging financial and volunteer support. They recall having to convince the community that post prom was “a good thing.”
A fundraising event didn’t evolve till years later, as the Blue Devil Ball; a gala type event, but it lost interest when the community was polled and most wanted a casual night out for the kids. And that’s when Cash Bash was born.
The buy-in wasn’t great for the first post prom; Daly actually recalls parents not wanting children to stay locked in till 6 a.m. Yes, the original post prom ran all the way till 6 a.m., and the students could not leave without a phone call to the parents. A lot of parents weren’t sold on the idea, because they were afraid their teens would be too tired the next day to attend the day after prom activities, recalled Piper.
A lot of parents also were sure their kids didn’t want to see their parents at prom. That hasn’t changed, but the moms all agreed, the kids are too busy to even see their parents. More importantly, the parents had fun, too. They were so concerned by the lack of interest that only two weeks till post prom, there were only 25 kids signed up. It was the last two days before the kids bought the tickets, and the first post prom was a success. All those parents who thought it wouldn’t last, that it wouldn’t be a success, were proven wrong.
“That’s why, I think, it kept going, because the kids had so much fun,” said Piper.
Some of that hasn’t changed, phone calls are made if a student doesn’t show up, or if they try to leave, or even if they’re under the influence. Now, post prom ends at 3 a.m., and parents and police patrol everyone’s safe departure.
Kids have shown up under the influence, but the moms were just thankful they were locked in and safe. They had bouncers who made sure students couldn’t partake when they were there for post prom. Original bouncers included the “formidable” Pat Daly, Billy Schwiesow, and Warren Piper, who checked doors, bathrooms, and even the parking lot.
Terry Daly recalled being so thankful and reflected on just how many lives were saved. Yes, lives were saved just hosting a big teen friendly event after prom.
That’s what current Post Prom Chair Angela Grzeskowiak wants everyone to remember when she struggles to find volunteers; this after prom party saves kids’ lives.
Decorations were simple with rolls of newsprint donated by The Vedette back in the day, and the group would just paint all the decor. They would get together weekly on Tuesday mornings in someone’s basement and just paint away, leaving the artwork to dry on clotheslines in the backyard.
Post Prom always was themed, and they’ve kept track of the themes even though there’s been some duplicate themes over the years. The inaugural year didn’t have a theme, but 1987 did and the first theme was City Lights. The Wild West theme has been used three times, with Wizard of Oz, Hawaiian, and circus themes being used twice. The theme is now always a secret, leading up to the surprise for the kids. Parents and the public are allowed to view it while the students are at prom; this year viewing is available on Saturday, May 10, from 5:30 – 7 p.m.
While the original menus were similar to today’s – pizza, White Castles, ice cream, and the like, the original group of moms did the cooking. Now, volunteers can’t use the kitchen since COVID, and all the food is catered.
Games included carnival and casino games and a bingo room. Today, there’s still casino games and other games, along with inflatables for teens to climb and jump on. The goal was always the same for the students: Win play money that can be traded for prizes.
Some prizes were similar, things teens would need for college, including boomboxes, mini-fridges, microwaves, luggage, TVs, a raft. The prizes have evolved to include handheld electronic games, headphones, camping sets, gift cards, and scholarships. That play money originally was used to bid on prizes in an auction with Pat Gorman being the first auctioneer. Larry Lorenz was the second. Now, the play money is weighed out for tickets for prizes.
A common theme in talking with the organizers back in the day and today is lack of funding, lack of support or volunteers, or even worse, both.
Tammy Bettenhausen Cowger attended the first post prom and then volunteered during her kids’ attendance in high school. She said support always ebbed and flowed.
Amy Marevka and Tammy Cowger both admitted when they took over in 2011, post prom was in danger of falling to the wayside. Marevka and Cowger enlisted help from Sherri Lensing and Julie Nichols and ensured it never dissolved.
Grzeskowiak became involved in 2015 and chair in 2021. She admits there’s a lull in volunteers at the moment but is hopeful she’ll garner more support.
As Grzeskowiak shared her concerns, the original post prom committee members started offering to help, even buying tickets to Cash Bash.
Everyone agreed, the community knows about post prom, but they think the community takes it for granted.
Budgets have changed, inflation has increased the cost of it all, but in the end, it’s still just parents coming together to provide a safe, fun activity for teens after prom.
And that’s one thing they all hope the community never takes for granted, even 40 years later.