Party for Poppa K is an annual philanthropy event I started in memory of my dad, Michael Kareha ("Poppa K"), who passed away of cancer in February 2004.
I am ever grateful for the wonderful support group I had after my dad's death. This group of people helped me to realize that it is possible to find light in the darkest of situations. My goal is to share this attitude with others, which has strengthened my ability to cope with the loss.
And so, I set the first annual Party for Poppa K in motion in the fall of 2004 as my fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa's, philanthropy event. Party for Poppa K started as a t-shirt sale with the slogan, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Hospice - To be honest, I didn't even know what hospice was prior to my dad's illness. But my experience with the organization has inspired me to become an advocate for the service. The money raised through Party for Poppa K is donated to Diakon Hospice Saint John and used to help those who may not have access to hospice care.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade - One of my hopes in developing this event is that it could serve not only as a memorial event for my dad, but as a reminder and inspiration, for all who have been faced with tragedy, that each of us is dealt lemons throughout life: Some will be big, some will be small; however, each lemon bears the potential of producing lemonade and being aware of that is powerful.
To date, Party for Poppa K has raised over $7,500 on behalf of hospice and has evolved from a t-shirt selling fundraiser to an annual golf outing.
Party for Poppa K 2010 will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the Center Valley Golf Club in Allentown, PA.
The event is open to anyone interested in having a good time while supporting a worthy cause.