COVID-19 certainly has presented The Connor Group Kids & Community Partners with interesting opportunities to give back.
The company’s non-profit arm provided more than $1 million in wifi, devices and groceries to students and families in need. It provided nearly another $1 million in no-interest loans to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic.
And, just to hammer home the point that we are living in odd times, Kids & Community hosted a prom Saturday night in the Connor Group hangar.
Specifically, it hosted the junior-senior prom for Dayton Early College Academy, a high-performing charter school district with a national reputation for producing first-generation college students.
“These kids have been through a lot the last year, and they weren’t going to be able to have a prom because of COVID restrictions and cost,” said Kids & Community director Ryan Ernst. “I walked into Larry’s office with the idea of hosting it, and before I could even get the question out, he was like, ‘We’ll host it and we’ll pay for the decorations.’”
The only problem, however, was that we over-promised. As it turns out, the hangar’s occupancy limit and lack of an assembly permit wouldn’t allow for a dance. Not to mention, the building’s fire suppression system made the event a no-go according to the fire marshal. Enter Kids & Community coordinator Brandi Luttrell, who relentlessly arranged for the proper inspections, architectural layouts, shut-offs and permits – all on short notice. She also planned the entire event, coordinated the set-up and teardown.
The night went off without a hitch.
“It was definitely the coolest and most picturesque dance in our history,” said DECA superintendent Dave Taylor. “Just an amazing experience for everyone.”