Vernon Business Donates $1,000 For RHS Junior Prom Costs

A local business has put a deposit on the deposit the Rockville High School junior class may lose to the La Renaissance foreclosure proceedings.

The RHS Class of 2014 had its prom scheduled for May 4 and had put down a $1,000 deposit to secure the venue. But uncertainty over a foreclosure sale scheduled for April 27 prompted advisers and class officers to shop around for an alternate facility. Last Friday, the class put a deposit on The Riverview in Simsbury for May 10.

RHS principal Eric Baim said prom organizers thought it was better to risk losing the La Renaissance deposit than scrambling to find a venue at the 11th hour.

Adam Weissberger, who owns the State Farm agency in the Lafayette Plaza, was told of the dilemma Thursday night. He called Baim the next day to offer financial help. Weissberger, who is also a Town Council member, donated the entire $1,000.

The agency considers it a gift and wants nothing in return, Weissberger said.

"My goal each day is to help clients manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams," he said.  "This donation is being made to help the Class of 2014 recover money that that may be lost as a result of La Renaissance going out of business, and the need to find an alternate venue. This fits perfectly within State Farm’s mission and vision statement, as well as the values we stand for as a company."

When Baim found out Weissberger was interested in offsetting the prom costs, he was moved and said, "It would help a lot."

"I really appreciate this," he said. "And so do the advisers and the students." Baim said there would be some concern over costs if the La Renaissance deposit were lost.

The donation needs Board of Education approval before it can be deposited into the Class of 2014 account, and Baim said the issue should be on Monday's school board meeting agenda.

When asked if his donation might be interpreted by some as being convenient politically, considering he is on the council and it is an election year, Weissberger became annoyed.

"I'm sure some people might be tempted to post in the comments that this might be politically motivated, but that would just disgust and disturb me," he said. "I am a small business owner who is involved in the town and involved in the community and I want to give something back."    

Weissberger also took an active role in a Patch-sponsored teddy bear donation program for the State Police in the wake of December’s school shootings in Newtown.