Portage boys and girls had a blast on Friday night as the Portage Township YMCA held their fifth annual Pee Wee Prom for kids seven years old and under. This year's Pee Wee Prom, which was themed “Beach Bash”, was open to members and the community, and attracted hundreds of parents and kids dressed in their most formal attire.
“We started the event about five years ago,” said Cathi Srednoselac, Preschool and Gymnastics Coordinator at the Portage YMCA. “We thought it would be a cute idea to have a mommy-son, daddy-daughter, you know, fun loving adult and child dance. It’s just taken off and it’s the cutest thing you’re going to see. Little girls show up in little prom dresses for their size and sometimes little corsages. We actually had someone get a limo the first year we did it. It was great. We advertise it as ‘Be Your Child’s 1st Prom Date’.”
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“We have dancing, a photo booth and all you can eat food,” said Srednoselac. “We always do a give-away at the end of the event and this year everyone gets a little beach ball as they leave. We had around 200 people at this year’s event.”
Volunteering at the YMCA and helping at the event were incoming Portage High School freshmen who have to complete a certain amount of volunteer work before entering high school.
“They have to do something like 10 or 20 hours of volunteer time so we contact the high school and get volunteers and we also have ladies from the Gap Inc. and they have a volunteer scholarship program and we’ll end up getting a donation from them that will go to help fund our program,” Srednoselac said.
There with his daughter Katie was Portage resident, Matt Watson.
“This is her first time coming to the event,” said Watson. “I’ve been taking her sister for a few years and now it’s her turn. My wife actually heard about it first so we decided to start coming. It’s been fun.”
The Pee Wee Prom has become a popular event for the Portage Township Y that helps to raise money for the Preschool Program which currently educates 140 children. Srednoselac spoke about the program and the impact the Y has had on her and the kids over the years.
“I’ve been with the Y for 31 years teaching gymnastics and in the Preschool Department for around 15 years,” said Srednoselac. “I just like making a difference with the kids. I’m still in contact with kids that I taught when they were five years old and now they’re 40. It’s crazy! I’ve made some incredible connections and I think the reason I have such connections is that I’m a firm believer that everyone who comes through our program matters.”
Echoing those sentiments and speaking about the Pee Wee Prom and her experiences teaching in the Preschool Department at the Y was Jessica Bonta.
“This is my first year teaching after assisting last year,” said Bonta. “I love it! I love the kids! It gives me something to look forward to everyday seeing their smiles. Pee Wee Prom is a fundraising event we do every year. We have parents and grandparents who bring their kids. It’s just a great night out for the kids who get to see their friends from school and the community.”
To find out more about the Portage Township YMCA, go to: http://www.ymcaofportage.org/.