Despite a rainy start, the Discovery House Father’s Day at Skaha Lake Park saw a couple hundred families, fathers and their kids take in the event Sunday afternoon.
From ball hockey to children’s games, bouncy castle, live music from Three Scotch In, and the ever popular dunk tank, the three-hour event at the park’s ball courts was a hit.
With games like life-sized Snakes & Ladders, checkers and giant Jenga, along with croquet, face painting and craft corners, there was plenty for families to do. Several members of the Penticton Vees were there to play ball hockey with the kids with Harvee, the mascot joining in.
With the slogan “returning fathers to children and sons to families” that is what the day was all about, said Discovery House executive director Jerome Abraham.
“A lot of alumni are here with their families and a lot of our members are here volunteering, contributing to the community,” said Abraham. While not the biggest financial fundraiser the recovery house does, it is the most important, said Abraham who raised the most in pledges for the dunk tank.
“I had set a goal of beating my last year’s total of $14,200,” said Abraham. But on Sunday, he did much more than that. During the event he learned he had raised $18,000.
Abraham’s son threw the first balls to dunk his dad.
Discovery House alumni Gord Portman also took the icy plunge, a few times.
Portman credits Discovery House and Pathways for helping him get clean after years of struggling with addiction and homelessness.
Portman just celebrated two years of being clean and is now raising funds to put in a memorial bench at Okanagan Lake in memory of those who have died from overdose.
READ MORE: City contributes $3K towards memorial bench for overdose victims
Penticton Vees Josh Nadeau went in the dunk tank earlier in the day Sunday, before going to play ball hockey with several of his teammates and the many kids who joined in a game or two.
Councillor James Miller was also in the dunk tank as was Michelle Prystay and several members of Discovery House.
Abraham said the turnout and support for Discovery House has been phenomenal.
“This community is amazing,” he said.
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