For Immediate Release
Contact: Lindsay Corcoran 508-368-7252 or 774-670-8811
WORCESTER – District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. is inviting local schools and parent groups to apply for mini grants to support post-prom and post-graduation events designed to keep students safe and prevent drunken driving crashes.
“This time of year is supposed to be a celebration for students and their families, but too often we see tragedies,” Mr. Early said. “We’re hoping these grants will assist more schools in offering safe options for students.”
These events, organized and overseen by adults, offer safe drug- and alcohol-free alternatives to high-risk activities that often follow end of the year celebrations for high school students.
“While none of us know what the status of school activities will be in the spring of 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, we are cautiously optimistic and accepting applications for funding requests,” Mr. Early said. “Some celebrations looked different in 2021, but we were proud to continue supporting these efforts and providing students with the fun and safe events they deserve.”
This is the fourth year the office has offered grants thanks to the support of the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance Drunk Driving Trust Fund. Prior to that, Mr. Early supported local post-prom and post-graduation events at high schools across the county through his drug forfeiture funding.
Schools and parent groups can apply for these grants to either support existing events or to assist in establishing new events. Applications for funding requests are due by Feb. 17.
To request a grant application, contact Ellen Miller at ellen.miller@mass.gov.
