October 15, 2019
A storybook night for fathers, daughters helps charities
Fathers and daughters totaling approximately 1,000 danced like royalty Saturday at the 2019 Poplar Bluff Masonic Youth Father Daughter Ball. The Black River Coliseum was transformed into a scene from the Arabian nights for each princess and her father to enjoy a magical time together. ...
Fathers and daughters totaling approximately 1,000 danced like royalty Saturday at the 2019 Poplar Bluff Masonic Youth Father Daughter Ball.
The Black River Coliseum was transformed into a scene from the Arabian nights for each princess and her father to enjoy a magical time together. The matinee numbers were around 200 participants, while the evening totalled 800, according to organizers. Proceeds from the events will be split among programs including a transportation fund for patients of Shriners hospitals, a kids coat drive effort and Masonic youth programs.
One amazing princess, 12-year-old Gracie Burns, and her dad, Ed Burns, had an especially meaningful time at the dance. This is the fourth dance they’ve attended, but the first since she had scoliosis surgery at Shriners Hospitals for Children this summer.
Gracie’s mother, Kim Adams Burns, said the family brought home a special little 6-month-old puppy, who came from the animal shelter and was a prize in the silent auction. Gracie fell in love with the rescue puppy and used her own money to outbid everyone in the auction. She named her prize Mason and is delighted all the proceeds from the auction go to Shriners organizations.
“Shriners has a special place in our heart because they were so good to Gracie this summer when she had surgery,” Kim Adams Burns said.
Special memories for each princess and her dad are the goals one Poplar Bluff couple hoped for when they suggested the dance to the local Masonic groups.
The first local ball came about when Terry and Tammy Yarbrough, who work with the local Masonic youth, spotted a similar event posted out of town. They volunteer with Rainbow for Girls
Terry Yarbrough said, “We were on an anniversary trip in Arkansas when I saw a sign about a Christian school having a father/daughter dance. I thought that would be great for the Masonic youth groups.”
“The first year, on Oct. 19, 2013, we had it at the Elks and around 100 people attended,” Tammy Yarbrough said. “We knew we would need a bigger place, so the second year we had it at the Aad Grotto and 250 attendees.”
Terry Yarbrough said, “the first ball, we knew it was something when we saw the dads on their cell phones taking photos.” Earnie Wilson agreed, he knew when “I looked at the faces on the dads posting pictures, getting ready to come to the ball.”
“We sold out that year and Tammy thought we had to go bigger. The third year we came to the Coliseum,” Terry Yarbrough explained.
DeMolay advisor Betty Lourwood said, when “we sold out, then we decided to have a matinee during the day. We would open the doors at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.” which allows enough time to prepare for the evening event.
The goal is to improve the father-daughter relationship, Terry Yarbrough explained, and Terry Yarbrough added, while they are having the “times of their lives.”
As Terry Yarbrough was scrolling through the photos on his phone, he said one dad, Patrick Byrd of Kennett, started bringing his daughter Emmalynn when she was a few months old. As he located the photo from the second year she attended, he said, “we get to see her grow up.”
Smiling Lourwood said, this year, one dad brought a ticket before his daughter was even born.
About 25-30% of the attendees are from out of town, organizers said. Dad Brian Scott lives in California and flies in each year so he and his brother can bring their daughters.
An afternoon menu was centered around pork steak, which the Masons cooks. The evening meal was catered by Tasteful Creations. Each girl at both events received a T-shirt, a tiara, a carriage ride with dad and a flower.
“We do not put a dress code on this event ever,” Tammy Yarbrough explained. “We’ve had some fathers in their overalls while others are in tuxedos. Some girls are dressed in their Sunday dresses and others in $600 formals. There is no age limit, we’ve had daughters as old as in their 40s.”
Planning for the 2020 ball, according to Terry Yarbrough, starts the day after the ball. The first meeting for next year was Sunday, but everything “really kicks off in January.”
Each year it takes about 1,700 man hours and the committee includes between 12-16 people, plus the help of the Masonic youth. Lourwood said, it is good for the Masonic youth to help, taking guests to their seats, serving and carrying plates.
“A lot of energy, blood, sweat and tears are invested in the event,” Earnie Wilson said, “When the first child gets her tiara and flowers, her eyes become saucers and this makes everything we’ve done in the last year worth it. This event is about children. Every penny leftover goes back to the children. It is split four ways: Poplar Buff Rainbow Assembly, Divine Chapter Order of DeMolay, Poplar Bluff Lodge Coats and Kids Program and Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund.”
All the Rainbow and DeMolay sponsors credit Dave Williams of Atom Entertainment who has donated his time every year as DJ with “bringing the party.”
Wilson said, Williams “gets the dads interacting.”
The three top corporate sponsors are Poplar Bluff Children’s Dentistry, Dr. Yeoman’s Dermatology office and Wash Park Car Wash.
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a Masonic youth service organization which teaches leadership training through community service. Young women ages 10-21 learn about the value of charity and service through their work and involvement with their annual local and Grand (state or country) service projects. DeMolay International is the a youth organization for young men between 12 and 21, and develops leadership skills and good moral character.
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