Dads' Volleyball Tourney Helps New Families

About 60 teams of dads and their kids turned out for a day of sun and sand at the third annual Father's Day Beach Volleyball Tournament Sunday, raising more than $3,000 for local families.

"Overall it was tons of fun for the dads and their kids," said event organizer Elise Johnson, "and it raised money for a great cause."

Co-sponsored by the City of Manhattan Beach's Parks & Recreation Department and the California Beach Volleyball Association, the tournament is a charitable fundraiser for the non-profit, Project Fatherhood, an organization that celebrates the unique role dads play in their kids' lives. Project Fatherhood is a Torrance-based nonprofit that mentors young fathers, and all tournament proceeds are being donated to the organization.

Because the tournament is non-competitive, prizes were instead awarded for the best matching bathing suits and for the kid who did the best job of "carrying" his or her dad on the court (also known as the Sherpa Award).

Team Vena (Greg Vena and daughter Kendall) took home the award for the bathing suit competition with their matching tie-dyed swimwear. The Sherpa Award competition, on the other hand, had so many contenders that it resulted in a tie for 1st with Team May (Garry May and daughter Fiona) and Team Heidrich-Monk (Drew Heidrich and his daughter Piper) sharing the title.

"The concept is really, really cool," said Tim Walmer, who was back with his kids after playing in last year's tournament. "Volleyball is pretty significant in Manhattan Beach; everyone plays it. I think it's the natural [choice], that fathers get to play it with their kids here."

A higher-than-usual turnout was due in part to free advertisting by local radio station KROQ, said Johnson.

Give-aways, raffle items and volleyball-related games for younger kids ensured a fun day for all.