More than 300 Cal Poly students and San Luis Obispo senior citizens attended the second annual Senior Prom – twice the number of last year’s attendees – and helped raise more than $3,500 for the Alzheimer’s Association.
The three-hour event, hosted by Cal Poly’s Student Community Services, was held Sunday at the Manse on Marsh, a senior living community at 475 Marsh St.
“The event was a huge success, thanks to so much support from friends and family,” said agribusiness senior Brandon Styles, director of senior services for SCS and organizer of the Senior Prom. “I’ve had very, very dedicated friends help, and this event would not have been nearly as successful without them.”
Styles was inspired to create the event because of the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in his family.
“It’s my nonprofit of choice,” he said. “It’s very close to my heart.”
While geared toward senior citizens, attendees ranged in age, with small children present as well.
Betty, a Manse on Marsh member who attended the Senior Prom last year, said, “They have done another great job this year.”
Music included live jazz music played by Cal Poly students, and dancers young and old were constantly on the dance floor when prizes weren’t being auctioned off.
More than $7,900 in door prizes, raffle tickets and auction items was won during the event, and event coordinators sold items at the door in addition to tickets to raise money for the San Luis Obispo office of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Styles and other volunteers worked hard to spread word of the Senior Prom, gather donations and prizes, and organize the event. Styles hopes the Senior Prom will become a nationwide event to benefit Alzheimer’s Association offices around the U.S.