THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407020237
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Vernal Boothe had about $500 saved toward buying a car when he hit the jackpot.
At Maury High School's After-the-Prom Party, the 18-year-old graduating senior won the grand prize - a 1983 Plymouth Reliant.
``It was a blessing,'' Boothe said after picking up the car from Green Gifford, the dealership that donated the vehicle to the school's raffle.
``Now I have a way to get to Norfolk State next year,'' Boothe said.
A resident of Coleman Place, Boothe is planning to study business administration. For the past year, he's been putting some of his earnings from a job as a part-time security officer toward buying transportation for college.
His big win took away a lot of pressure, he said.
``This isn't my dream car,'' Boothe admitted of his new wheels. ``But it's free, and it's mine. Now I can save for a better one.''
It was past 4:30 in the morning, and Boothe had just about fallen asleep to the lulling music at the party, when he heard his raffle number being called.
Groggy, but eager to see what he'd won, the Maury football player and Prom King dashed to the front of the room.
That's when he found out he'd won the grand prize.
``I was shocked,'' he recalled. ``I didn't believe it. All my friends said I won everything that night. When I got home and told my mother, she didn't believe it either.''
The car was just one of the prizes given away at the party. In addition to Green Gifford, dozens of businesses donated gift certificates, money, T-shirts, Sony Walkmans and other prizes.
``The whole purpose of the party is to give them a safe place to come to after the prom and remain chemical-free instead of going to a hotel and drinking,'' said Sharon Pattison, student assistance counselor at Maury who helped organize the party. ``The prizes give them an incentive to come.''
About 100 kids attended the party held at the downtown-area YMCA.
``That's not a high percentage. . . ,'' Pattison conceded. ``We wish more than that had come.''
Although Boothe took home the grand prize, winning a car or other gifts was not the reason he choose to attend the party.
``A lot of people thought it was going to be boring,'' he said of the party. ``But I'm a wild and crazy guy. I figured you make it what you want. I had a pretty good time. And I won a car, too.'' by CNB