Fundraising efforts aims to defray cost of Revere senior prom

REVERE – Flocks of pink flamingos on front lawns of Revere homes and even municipal buildings are turning heads and slowing down passing cars.The phenomenon is not a fluke, however, and the fowl is not real.It?s been a warm winter, but not that warm!Instead, the groups of eight plastic flamingos are part of a “flocking fundraiser” undertaken by Revere High School seniors, to defray the cost of their senior prom, which this year will be held for the first time at New England Aquarium in Boston.?It is a big deal,” Co-Director of Student Activities Joanne McKenna said. “We have never done anything this big for prom before.”The tab for the prom will be between $38,000 and $40,000, but students and the high school faculty are on a mission to keep ticket prices affordable.?We want to keep it at the $40 range. Usually, they are $30 to $35,” Co-Director of Student Activities Bill O?Brien said.?The demographics of the high school have changed dramatically over the past couple years. We want to make sure it is affordable for students,” McKenna added.That?s where the pink flamingos come into play.?Flocking” is when a student pays $15 for eight bright pink plastic flamingos to be put on their subject?s yard at night. That subject may be a fellow student, a friend or a family member and the flock remains in that yard for just one day.So far, the “flocking” has generated $1,300.?It is so visual,” senior Venous Hamza said. “It?s funny to go around Revere and see flamingos on peoples? yards and know it is from Revere High School.”They have also sold carnations, candy canes and are having a talent show to raise money for the prom.Hamza, who is on the prom committee, has not been flocked yet but has flocked a few of her friends.?It has been very successful so far,” senior Courtney Gursica said.The fundraiser was originally supposed to be between students but it has taken on a much larger group of participants. Even Mayor Dan Rizzo?s office has been flocked, according to the Prom Committee.?Today a lunch lady told me she wanted to flock another lunch lady,” O?Brien said.McKenna said she?s been flocked herself.?My sister came to me one morning and said it was really funny what the students did. I was like ?what are you talking about?? ” McKenna said. “I looked out the window and there they were. It was really funny. I got a kick out of it.”McKenna and O?Brien plan for most of the senior class, which is 500-plus students, to attend the prom.?It is one of the biggest events in the high school,” O?Brien said. “If students don?t go to any event all year long, they still usually go to this.”The fact that this year?s prom will be at the Aquarium just adds to the excitement.?We are so excited about it. Anytime we are at an event where somewhere mentions that the prom is at the aquarium, we all go wild,” senior Kate Ferrante said.?It will be different than most proms, which is cool,” senior Juan Jaramillo added. “It will also bring us closer to nature.”The seniors are excited about the prom for different reasons.?I?m excited to bring my girlfriend,” Jaramillo said.?Our class is so close. Some classes don?t even like to be around each other,” senior Racquel MacDonald said. “It will be great to all be together.”Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].