The Project Graduation Committee is urging the greater Point Borough community to buy some flowers - fast!

The deadline has been extended to Friday because the number of flower sales are down 30 percent compared to last year, said Noelle Grcic, one of the parents heading up the small, but determined, parents' committee trying to plan the kind of Project Graduation that Point Borough High School graduates will want to attend.

The committee, through other fundraisers, has raised enough money to pay the Atlantic Club in Wall for use of its facility after the June 13 graduation.

However, the committee sorely needs more funds to make sure there are enough activities to keep the graduates nice and busy during the event which begins after graduation and continues until about 3 or 4 a.m., Grcic said.

If graduates know in advance that lots of fun activities will be offered, more of them will want to go, which means there will be more of them in a supervised, safe, secure, alcohol- and drug-free environment.

Without raising additional money "we may not have enough as many activities as they had last year to keep the kids busy," said Grcic.

"We would also like to make sure that each student leaves with a prize, whether it is a gift certificate to Bubbakoo's or something bigger," she explained. "If we don't raise enough money through the flower sale, we will do a few car washes, including one on May 6."

Nancy Pazienza, who is handling the committee's finances, said they have raised $14,000 so far, but need $22,000 to be able to offer the same level of activities offered in previous years.

Those interested can print out the form here (see attached PDF) or on the Virtual Backpack page of the school district website.

All forms must be submitted to Jim Foley (jfoley@pointpleasant.k12.nj.us), the drug and alcohol counselor, at the high school's main office by Friday.

Pick up is from 9 a.m. to noon May 5 in the high school cafeteria.

This is the 23rd year of Project Graduation. The first 20 years it was funded by the flower sales and grants from the state, but those grants dried up and a parents group stepped up last year, Grcic explained.