A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
It's not all about dancing with Dad. Here, mostly younger dancers try their hand at the limbo during Saturday's 12th annual REACH father-daughter ball at Black Bear's Otter Creek Center.
Lots of spinning goes on at the father-daughter ball, especially when one's daughter is under 5. Here, Joe Ruhnke (left) and brother-in-law Ryan Hanson enjoy a dance with daughters Julia (airborne in pink) and Dylan (partially obscured).
More than 300 dads and daughters put on their finest dancing duds and headed to the 12th annual REACH father-daughter ball Saturday, April 27.
There was plenty of glitter at the "Diamonds and Rhinestones" themed event, which moved to the Black Bear Casino and Resort's Otter Creek Center for the first time after being held in the Cloquet High School gym for years.
REACH executive director Dakota Koski said the new venue was excellent.
"From the acoustics, the extra space, elegant look, etc. it was a great move for us," said Koski.
It really is a special evening, with toddler through teenage girls enjoying dinner and a dance with Dad, and with each other.
"Our DJ instructed the fathers, this is a night to not worry about who else is in the room, get out of your seats, out on the dance floor and make memories with your daughter. You can visit with your buddies another day," Koski said. "He told them, 'Let's make some memories tonight your daughter won't forget.'"
Koski said the father-daughter ball is the group's most well-attended fundraiser each year, while the annual golf tournament is its biggest fundraiser financially.
But it's not all about the money.
"We put this on every year as an event to have a special night between fathers and daughters, or other father figures in a girl's life," he said.
