Charlie,
My daughter just graduated. I paid cash for her first year ($47K), for most of her books, most of her spending money, co-signed for most of her loans, gave her more spending money, $4K for a summer class, and just about anything else she wanted.
And for graduation;
I paid for her nurses pinning photos ($400), graduation photos and CD ($400), cap and gown ($350), lic. exam ($575), senior week parties and pub crawl ($800), Sr. dance at Fenway park ($300), dinner after pinning for 8 ($350), and dinner after graduation for 7 ($900). My father just gave her a car, but I have to pay for it to be shipped from Florida ($500). All that's left is graduation party, already up to $1200.
Help the parents, help yourself (if it's your kid).
Your kid $1000.
The neighbors $100 (or not)
Relative $200
I'll add that my goal was for her to spend time studying, not working, and to her credit she worked for the school and as a nurses aid whenever possible. But again, I'm glad I was able to help her the head start most of us never had, and thankful this part of the journey is over.