Despite the dresses, an occasional tie and a lone limosine, the Winter Formal felt like any other Paly dance.
But unlike other dances, the winter formal was a fundraiser, and raised over $10,000, according YCS President Caterina Yuan. 100% of the proceeds will go to Doctor’s Without Borders, a relief organization supplying aid in Darfur, Sudan.
"I thought it [the Winter Formal] was good," Junior Sereena Ojakian said. "It made a good cause out of something that would have already happened."
According to Yuan, 520 tickets were sold and 470 people came to the dance. The $20 ticket included unlimited access to three long tables at the side of the gym overflowing with brownies, coffee cake and cookies donated by parents, Hobee’s Restaurant and Douce France.
"It was great to have so many students support the cause," Maureen McCorry, a social studies teacher at Paly and the teacher supervisor of the winter formal planning said. "People were dancing and seemed to be having fun. The student feedback was very positive."
The dance seems to have been a success.
"The ten thousand dollars speaks for itself," McCorry said.