LIMA, OH (WLIO) -Â The Lima Family YMCA brought families closer together with their annual Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday.
Dads and their daughters were all dressed up for a night full of dancing, games, raffles, and activities like a questionnaire to learn more about each other. The event is meant to feel like a proper prom, with all of the important details like a DJ, punch, and a photographer. Whether their girl is a toddler or a teen, the dads enjoy the rare opportunity to get some one-on-one time together.
"The fathers really enjoy the time that they get outside of their house, just again, having a personal event and personal time with your daughter. And then I get feedback about how awesome it is, and how they look forward to seeing the smiling faces on their daughters," said Brianna Keeler, the teen development director at the YMCA.
Besides making memories, the dads are also setting an example of how their daughter should expect to be treated in the future.
"I want her to see that there are good men and there are bad men. I want her to know the difference between the two, that way when one day she's old enough and she finds her person, that she knows exactly what she wants and she knows her worth," said Jeremy Newby.
"I wanted to say how great my dad is. When I'm sad he makes me happy and whenever we used to go to the park he always used to push me on the swings," added Jeremy's 8-year-old daughter, Kendra Newby.
The Newbys and several other families chose to make a whole night of it, starting by going out to dinner at a nice restaurant before the dance.
