In a rainbow of party dresses, with corsages and boutonnieres in place, girls from in and around Glenview were escorted by that special man in their life, to the event of the season at the OLPH Playdium, on Saturday.
Presented by the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Women’s Club, Guild 15, the annual Daddy Daughter Dance, now in its 15th year, saw record numbers, gathering hundreds for this long-awaited daddy daughter date night, after the cancellation of the event during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caroline Kinahan, marketing coordinator for the OLPH Women’s Club, Guild 15, says the event represents their biggest annual fundraiser, has no religious content, and was open to everyone, not just parish members.
“Embarrassing to say really, that in addition to her excitement about her dress, she is excited to have one-on-one, all alone time with dad,” Kinahan said of her daughter Catherine, age 4, who attended the dance for the first time this year.
According to the OLPH website, girls ages 5-12 were cordially invited to spend a special evening with their father, grandfather, or that special man in their lives, for a ticket price of $50.00 per couple.
Raffle prizes pictured here.
The event offered attendees, dancing, DJ and professional dancers by Bizar Entertainment, a favor station giving out flower-light-up crowns for the girls and Sugar Daddy boutonnieres for the father figures, a raffle, photo stations offering professional keepsake photos, a selfie station with props and backdrop, hula hoop contests and more.
Martijn Van Harten of Glenview attended Saturday.
“It’s just so great to spend time with my daughter in this festive setting,” Van Harten said.
According to Kinahan, this year the event saw the largest registration numbers ever.
“Last year’s total was 330, and this year when we hit 418, we had to start turning people away, which we hated to do,” Kinahan said.
The event was run by 30 Women’s Club volunteers and ten 8th graders from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School who earned service hours towards their confirmation for assisting at the dance.
Kinahan says the dance will bring at least $10,000 fundraising dollars to the church.
John Gall of Glenview attended with his 8-year-old, daughter Vivienne.
“It’s so special to have the opportunity to take my daughter out on a date, to show her what it is like to be treated like a lady, and to do it in such a loving community rich environment,” Gall said.
Dan Harpin, from Bourbonnais at
tended with granddaughters, Olivia and Maya Mackin from Glenview.
“Their dad couldn’t make it tonight and I was just so honored to be asked to take his place,” Harpin said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
