Students from 30 high schools gathered at Valley View Mall to try to win a new car, but it was Tommy Weaver, a rising senior from Luray High School, who had the winning key.
“I turned the key in the lock and it just kept going,” Weaver said moments after the key he had drawn successfully unlocked the car, indicating he was the winner. Weaver called his father immediately upon winning and was overheard saying, “No Dad, I really won!”
Weaver was among more than 100 students who won a chance at the car by attending after prom parties designed to keep high school students safe on prom night. In order to be eligible, students were required to stay at after prom parties until the events concluded. Four students from each school were selected to attend the After Prom Grand Finale Event at Valley View Mall on June 5.
”The car is the incentive,” said Kathy Graham Sullivan, coordinator of Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition or RAYSAC. “When the kids think they might win a new car, they tend to stay at after prom parties where they are safe.” Sullivan pointed out that since the programs’ inception 23 years ago not a single student had been injured or killed in a vehicular accident at a school participating in the car giveaway program. Sullivan thanked First Team Auto Mall of Roanoke, which has donated the car for the last 21 years.
“We think it’s important to keep these kids safe on prom night,” said First Team General Manager David Dillon, who was on hand for the giveaway. “If we can keep kids safe at 30-plus high schools by making a car available, we think it’s worth the investment in our communities.”
Prior to the car giveaway, the students played games to compete for prizes valued at about $100 each. At least one student from every high school earned one of those prizes, which were mostly electronics. After that, each student drew a key at random from a basket. Approximately 40 students tried their luck before Weaver’s key successfully unlocked the door.
Weaver plays golf and baseball for Luray High School. He says he plans to go to college where he hopes to major in engineering.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Sullivan. We made Tommy’s day, and we kept lots of kids safe for another year.”
For more information on how to help keep kids safe on prom night or to make a donation to the cause, call Kathy Sullivan at (540) 982-1427 ext. 2123 or visit www.raysac.org
