By Mary O’Keefe

Prom Plus, the 30-year-old organization that has given high school seniors a safe place after prom, has been resurrected by local parents concerned about the safety of local seniors and their guests – but they continue to need the public’s help. 

The Prom Plus board has trimmed back the May 17 event to match its budget; however, financial support is still needed. At this point, the organization is facing a deficit of about $5,000. 

It was 1991 when Crescenta Valley High School senior Berlyn Cosman went to an unsupervised after prom party at a Anaheim hotel. In a book written by her father titled “In the Wake of Death: Surviving the Loss of a Child,” Mark Cosman wrote that he and his wife decided to let their daughter go to this party because she had worked so hard in school. She had actually been awarded a basketball scholarship. He thought she would be safe; however, while she was asleep a former student, who she knew, shot and killed her. 

After that death, which tore the community apart, a group of community members and parents decided to create a safe place where students could go after prom. Over the years Prom Plus has offered high school students that place – and students see how much their community and parents care about them.

Prom Plus now needs that community and parent support once again as the May 17 date approaches. 

Anyone who can provided financial support can donate at www.promplus.org and click on the donate button, or make checks payable to Prom Plus and mail to P.O. Box 851, Verdugo City, California 91046. For those who would like to volunteer at the event, please contact info@promplus.org.

Prom Plus is a 501(c)(3) organization. Prom Plus appreciates the community’s support.