Perry High School juniors and seniors will get to enjoy their prom at the end of April with special help from a donation awarded by JCPenney. On Friday morning, during a Good Morning America segment, Perry students found they received $50,000 from JCPenney, along with several other schools across the country. Both juniors and seniors can be seen jumping for joy and screaming in celebration when they heard the announcement. "My reaction was like oh my gosh, we won," said Kaitlyn Leber, the senior class president. "This is going to be the best prom ever." Perry High and the Junior Class Prom Committee was nominated by Karen Dittemore, a general manager at the JCPenney in West Des Moines. The Junior Class Prom Committee was so grateful to be nominated and chosen by JCPenny’s for this donation and we can’t wait to make 2024 Prom a night to remember for our students!-- Emily LeslieProm is set for April 27, which is just under four months since a shooting at Perry High School that took the lives of sixth-grade student Ahmir Joliff, and high school principal Dan Marburger. "That means the most to me," said Leber about Dittemore's nomination. "Even though people don't live in Perry, they can have that small town feel with them, no matter where they're at." Some of the money will be used to buy prom tickets for the students, something Leber says is a game changer for many of her classmates. "I believe prom tickets were based at $40 each," Leber said. "With the news of Tyson shutting down, that can hopefully relieve some financial burden." The money will also be used to charter buses for students after prom. Leber says they will head to Hotel Pattee for food. She says the dance will be held at La Poste, and after the dance, they will head to Spare Time in West Des Moines for bowling and laser tag. "Originally, we were going to take school buses, but now we're going to take charter buses, which is way better," Leber said. Leber told KCCI that this prom is special to her and those in the school who will be going. "Our community is very tight knit and this is kind of our big sendoff before graduation," Leber said. "This is our big moment. Just be able to celebrate will be just so special." KCCI reached out to JCPenney, who shared the following statement: JCPenney is committed to standing with and celebrating the communities it serves. This means going beyond the shopping experience and making one of life’s special moments more special. In order to find deserving high schools across the country, JCPenney associates like Karen Dittamore, nominated local high schools in their community that they felt embodied our core values and deserved an extra special prom this year. Karen shared how Perry High School is a very close-knit community and embodies JCPenney’s core values and supports and stands with their community. In addition to Perry High School, four other high schools across the country received donations. In total, JCPenney donated $250,000 to high schools to make their prom extra special.
PERRY, Iowa —
Perry High School juniors and seniors will get to enjoy their prom at the end of April with special help from a donation awarded by JCPenney.
On Friday morning, during a Good Morning America segment, Perry students found they received $50,000 from JCPenney, along with several other schools across the country. Both juniors and seniors can be seen jumping for joy and screaming in celebration when they heard the announcement.
"My reaction was like oh my gosh, we won," said Kaitlyn Leber, the senior class president. "This is going to be the best prom ever."
Perry High and the Junior Class Prom Committee was nominated by Karen Dittemore, a general manager at the JCPenney in West Des Moines.
The Junior Class Prom Committee was so grateful to be nominated and chosen by JCPenny’s for this donation and we can’t wait to make 2024 Prom a night to remember for our students!
-- Emily Leslie
Prom is set for April 27, which is just under four months since a shooting at Perry High School that took the lives of sixth-grade student Ahmir Joliff, and high school principal Dan Marburger.
"That means the most to me," said Leber about Dittemore's nomination. "Even though people don't live in Perry, they can have that small town feel with them, no matter where they're at."
Some of the money will be used to buy prom tickets for the students, something Leber says is a game changer for many of her classmates.
"I believe prom tickets were based at $40 each," Leber said. "With the news of Tyson shutting down, that can hopefully relieve some financial burden."
The money will also be used to charter buses for students after prom.
Leber says they will head to Hotel Pattee for food. She says the dance will be held at La Poste, and after the dance, they will head to Spare Time in West Des Moines for bowling and laser tag.
"Originally, we were going to take school buses, but now we're going to take charter buses, which is way better," Leber said.
Leber told KCCI that this prom is special to her and those in the school who will be going.
"Our community is very tight knit and this is kind of our big sendoff before graduation," Leber said. "This is our big moment. Just be able to celebrate will be just so special."
KCCI reached out to JCPenney, who shared the following statement:
JCPenney is committed to standing with and celebrating the communities it serves. This means going beyond the shopping experience and making one of life’s special moments more special.
In order to find deserving high schools across the country, JCPenney associates like Karen Dittamore, nominated local high schools in their community that they felt embodied our core values and deserved an extra special prom this year. Karen shared how Perry High School is a very close-knit community and embodies JCPenney’s core values and supports and stands with their community.
In addition to Perry High School, four other high schools across the country received donations. In total, JCPenney donated $250,000 to high schools to make their prom extra special.
