Conard Safe Grad 2017 sends a HUGE thank you to Moe’s Southwest Grill for hosting a fundraiser at its new West Hartford location at 722 North Main St. in Crossroads Plaza in Bishops Corner.

Submitted by Anne Guthrie

On Thursday, May 4, the new Moe’s at Bishops Corner opened its doors a day earlier than their scheduled Grand Opening for a fundraiser benefiting Conard Safe Grad 2017.

The event, which ran from 5 to 7:30 p.m., brought Safe Grad supporters and Moe’s fans alike to welcome the popular restaurant back to West Hartford.

For more than 30 years, parents of Conard High seniors have joined many others around the country in organizing all-night, substance-free “Safe Grad” celebrations. Conard’s Safe Grad is an elaborate affair that includes dancing, games, inflatables, a hypnotist, lots of food as well as raffles for highly-valued prizes … and much more.

Safe Grad, which is open to all Conard 2017 grads free of charge, is a completely donor-supported event. Matt Rusconi and David Vorchheimer, Moe’s West Hartford’s franchise owners, generously offered to host the fundraiser as a pre-grand opening and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to support this year’s Conard Safe Grad event. Attendees paid $10 for an entrée, drink and t-shirt.

According to Renee Hartshorn, Conard Safe Grad 2017’s Committee Chair, “The turnout was amazing, and all the staff at Moe’s – including Elise Skrzyniarz who was key in organizing the event – were incredible.”

In total, Hartshorn estimates the Moe’s team served up more than 300 meals.

“As you can imagine, the line got a bit long at times – but everyone was in great spirits and just so happy to see Moe’s come back to West Hartford. And I can’t say enough about the servers. I was one of the last to go through the line, and they were still full of energy! We can’t thank Matt, David and Elise and the fantastic team at Moe’s enough,” Hartshorn said.

Moe’s Southwest Grill officially opened to the public at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017, offering $5 burritos all day as well as other special deals in honor of Cinco de Moe’s.

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Conard Safe Grad 2017 fundraiser at Moe’s Southwest Grill West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard Safe Grad 2017 fundraiser at Moe’s Southwest Grill West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard Safe Grad 2017 fundraiser at Moe’s Southwest Grill West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard Safe Grad 2017 fundraiser at Moe’s Southwest Grill West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard Safe Grad 2017 fundraiser at Moe’s Southwest Grill West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard Safe Grad 2017 fundraiser at Moe’s Southwest Grill West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard Safe Grad 2017 fundraiser at Moe’s Southwest Grill West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton