Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
There’s a ball on the calendar at the Clovis Civic Center.
In this case, there is no prince involved, simply three big-hearted women, and the guest list won’t include residents of mythical kingdoms, but instead is open to all adults with special needs in eastern New Mexico.
The second annual Special Hearts Prom is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 24, at the Clovis Civic Center, 801 Schepps Boulevard. The organizers want to make sure that every eligible individual in the region hears about it.
The event was started last year in honor of the late Daniel Goyne, a popular and well-known Clovis man who was passionate about Special Olympics, idolized super heroes, and believed there was always room for one more at his table.
Daniel died in March 2016, but he and his parents, Ronda and Troy Goyne, are credited with being the inspiration behind the first Special Hearts prom a year later.
Ronda Goyne is the accountant at the Clovis Civic Center. She and her colleagues, Misty Bertrand and Ruby Santos (general manager and events manager, respectively), are the masterminds behind what all three hope will become a long-running tradition.
The three are on the lookout for “adult individuals with special needs who want to attend a formal party with caring, supporting friends,” Bertrand said.
Thanks to generous sponsors headed up by the High Plains Rotary Club of Clovis, guests will be treated to a free glamorous evening complete with a photographer, a banquet-style meal, and a dance.
“This year’s theme is ‘Always Wear Your Cape’,” Bertrand said. “There’s a super hero inside each of us. Everyone who attends the prom will receive their own cape.”
To ensure there are ample goodies to go around, those who attend need to RSVP by Tuesday by calling Goyne at 575-935-5000, or emailing her at:
Guests are invited to bring family members and/or caregivers, and should include the number of those attending in the RSVP message.
“It’s so much fun to watch the excitement when the guests come in and see the decorations, the lights, the dance floor,” Goyne said. “Everyone dances at a special needs party — no partner needed. So much fun!”
“My Aunt Sarah has special needs and being able to host this remarkable event for those with special needs in our community is a way I honor her,” Santos said. “She loves to dance and since that’s a big part of the prom, I get out on the dance floor just for her.”
“Daniel Goyne was a phenomenal man and his legacy is true acceptance and friendship,” Bertrand said.
“It seems we need to care about each other more than ever these days,” she added, “and the Special Hearts Prom demonstrates that our small town can come together to celebrate and include everyone.”
Betty Williamson tips her hat to all of the special hearts involved in this event. Reach her at:
