The Penny Way Encourages Deeper Connections between Fathers and Sons
In a world filled with distractions, some say it’s easy for the connection between fathers and sons to be strained. The Father-Son Ball Out on Saturday, Oct. 7 at The Connection is The Penny Way Basketball Camp’s unique approach to solving that problem.
Photo Provided | The Penny Way
From 6 to 9 p.m., father-son guests are invited to 2900 E. Markland Ave. for an opportunity to dress up, hear from speakers, eat, play games and dance — but most importantly, to create a deeper emotional connection with the young man in your life.
“I’m a dad, and I hear from other men that they get their kids on the weekend and think that’s enough but it’s not. Building an emotionally deeper relationship with your son takes work, but we’re hosting this event to inspire men to take the first step,” said Antonio Penny, director of The Penny Way.
“A lot of the kids I mentor through the basketball program don’t live in a two-parent household. They tell me they don’t want to go to their dad’s house, I hope this event can not only impact dads in Kokomo but all over,” he said.
Growing up with a father in prison, Penny recognizes first-hand how strained relationships with fathers and sons can be.
Photo Provided | The Penny Way
And after seeing the number of events for dads and their daughters, or mothers and their sons, Penny was inspired to plan one where fathers and sons can get dressed up and have a fun guys’ night out together.
Penny said one of his main goals of the event is to bring awareness to the difference in how we treat young men versus young women and to help heal the strained emotional relationships that men sometimes experience.
“When it comes down to it, we as fathers don’t treat our sons the same as we treat our daughters,” he said. “The consequences aren’t the same. The longer we let ‘boys be boys,’ they become men too fast, and then it causes issues.”
“I wake up and do research, there’s too much violence, especially in our young men,” said Penny.
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, males accounted for 80 percent of all youth arrests for violent crimes in 2020.
“Dad’s go to the sporting events, but it’s mom who drops them off at practice. Coming in the fourth quarter of the game is too late — I see these dads missing the first quarter of their kid’s lives, and it’s just too late,” said Penny.
“Use this as a night to clean up, be fancy and do something to let your son know you’re there and you care. The same you would for your daughter,” said Penny.
Tickets are still available online here.