Dads practice modern chivalry at Daddy-Daughter Dance
By Mike Hamson
Special Correspondent Published: March 2, 2016
TBO.com
Wearing a wrist corsage with a yellow flower to match the color of her dress, Abigail Essig said she felt like a princess at the Campo Family YMCA’s inaugural Daddy-Daughter Dance.
Whether the fathers opened doors or pulled out chairs for their daughters, the evening was a lesson in modern chivalry.
Abigail pointed out that her father, Daren Essig, also wore yellow rose pinned to his suit for the Feb. 20 event.
“We are here tonight to celebrate and have a daddy daughter date because she is my princess,” Essig said.
A social studies teacher, Essig relocated to Florida from Rhode Island a few years ago with his family.
“I wanted to take her out and spend some quality time with my daughter because I work a lot and I don’t get to spend a lot of time with her,” he said.
More than 100 daughters joined in the dance at the Campo Family YMCA, 3414 Culbreath Road in Valrico.
Moises Lugo brought his daughter, Ramona Lugo, who had a blue bow in her hair.
“We are here to experience the moment with my daughter. She is now 6 and it’s something special for us to do,” Lugo said.
Alicia Bentley, the Campo YMCA’s youth and family director, said the money raised for the event covered the cost of the dance as well as costs of future family programming.
“We are in the process of planning mother/son, father/son, and mother/daughter events similar to this one,” Bentley said. “We hope to continue to grow and do these events yearly.”
She called the dance a huge success.
“We wanted to host a daddy-daughter dance because we believe in the importance of families having a strong relationship,” Bentley said. “This event was to create a moment that dads and their daughters can share and remember for a lifetime. We also wanted to reach out to the community to show that the YMCA is a place for families to come have fun and grow together.”
Tammy Holmberg, who owns the Brandon Chick-fil-A with her husband, Paul, was one of the volunteers who helped decorate the Campo YMCA for the dance that could foreshadow a prom for many of the girls in the future. Chick-fil-A sponsored the event.
“Chick-fil-A played a huge role in the planning process from the very start,” Bentley said.
Special Correspondent Published: March 2, 2016
TBO.com
Wearing a wrist corsage with a yellow flower to match the color of her dress, Abigail Essig said she felt like a princess at the Campo Family YMCA’s inaugural Daddy-Daughter Dance.
Whether the fathers opened doors or pulled out chairs for their daughters, the evening was a lesson in modern chivalry.
Abigail pointed out that her father, Daren Essig, also wore yellow rose pinned to his suit for the Feb. 20 event.
“We are here tonight to celebrate and have a daddy daughter date because she is my princess,” Essig said.
A social studies teacher, Essig relocated to Florida from Rhode Island a few years ago with his family.
“I wanted to take her out and spend some quality time with my daughter because I work a lot and I don’t get to spend a lot of time with her,” he said.
More than 100 daughters joined in the dance at the Campo Family YMCA, 3414 Culbreath Road in Valrico.
Moises Lugo brought his daughter, Ramona Lugo, who had a blue bow in her hair.
“We are here to experience the moment with my daughter. She is now 6 and it’s something special for us to do,” Lugo said.
Alicia Bentley, the Campo YMCA’s youth and family director, said the money raised for the event covered the cost of the dance as well as costs of future family programming.
“We are in the process of planning mother/son, father/son, and mother/daughter events similar to this one,” Bentley said. “We hope to continue to grow and do these events yearly.”
She called the dance a huge success.
“We wanted to host a daddy-daughter dance because we believe in the importance of families having a strong relationship,” Bentley said. “This event was to create a moment that dads and their daughters can share and remember for a lifetime. We also wanted to reach out to the community to show that the YMCA is a place for families to come have fun and grow together.”
Tammy Holmberg, who owns the Brandon Chick-fil-A with her husband, Paul, was one of the volunteers who helped decorate the Campo YMCA for the dance that could foreshadow a prom for many of the girls in the future. Chick-fil-A sponsored the event.
“Chick-fil-A played a huge role in the planning process from the very start,” Bentley said.
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