Adult prom raises big bucks

Crisis Center Foundation hosts third annual event

By Ben Cox

Several people do not get to experience the lasting memories and fun times with friends prior to graduation that high school prom brings with it. The Crisis Center Foundation stepped in to correct that three years ago with their version of an adult prom.

Adult proms have become a popular event for some to enjoy all of the glamour, music and entertainment through the lens of an adult.

For Crisis Center’s clients, it’s also a great way to experience prom as a part of recovery from what can be an abusive relationship. This brings a positive experience for clients and community alike.

Building off of last year’s expansion, this year’s prom returned to Hamilton’s North East on Saturday, March 29. Springfield-area band and local favorite Sushi Roll brought the entertainment.

This year also brought together several well-known community members for prom court: Antonia Alfano, Don Olendzki, Heather Wardlow, Jassamayn Criss-Fisher, Eddie Baldwin, Ryne Turke, Phronsie Spaulding, Melissa Vee and Shawn Lovekamp.

Members of the court spent the last several months hosting a variety of fundraisers in order to claim the crowns of prom king and queen. The fundraisers included a stand-up comedy tour, local celebrity bartending nights, a guest as an on-air sports broadcaster and a ‘pack the house’ night with infamous cannolis at Leo’s Pizza. Voting for the court started back in January.

Crisis Center Foundation Executive Director Dona Leanard says the organization’s hallmark fundraiser was sold out on seats four days prior to the event, and still managed to have another 30 people come through the door on prom night for a total of 330 attendees.

“It was wonderful, and just the fact that so many people showed up is a testament to having fun, people wanting to support us, and it’s something that the community enjoys,” Leonard says, adding, “The band was great. Hamilton’s was great. They set up standing tables for us. We had as many tables as we could without being on top of one another. It all worked out very well and I was very pleased.”

Crisis Center Foundation Administrative Assistant Priscilla Lehnhausen said in a social media post after the prom that three years ago she didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she brought the prom idea to the foundation board, and never had organized a major fundraiser before. The prom raised approximately $6,000 in its first year. “We raised just shy of $44,000 this year,” Leanard says, “It will go directly back to serving our clients at the Crisis Center.”

At the end of the night, Antonia Alfano and Don Olendzki were crowned Crisis Center Foundation Adult Prom Queen and King, respectively, for 2025. Leanard says, though, that this year’s court likely all deserved an award: “The prom court this year was absolutely outstanding. They just were very, very creative with the things that they did to raise money.” Several businesses and even an out-of-town event got in on the events leading up to the prom. Rumor has it that plans for next year’s event are already underway.