Happy Father's Day

Today is Father’s Day. And like so many of you, it’s a day I think of with happy and sad memories for what was and is no longer.

Meet my dad, Kenneth Kohlhoff. He passed away on December 17, 2020, from complications from preexisting medical conditions while hospitalized. Because this was during the pandemic, we only got to see him at the beginning of his hospital stay, and then again one other time when he was expected not to make it.

Throughout his life, Dad loved people in need. He was always ready with a joke, smile, or sympathetic ear. He’d drive an untold number of miles just to be with someone if they asked for his company. And he was passionate about those who were hungry or sick. We were always feeding neighbors and friends and attending get togethers with people because we didn’t always have relatives nearby.

What We are Celebrating

Dad’s untimely death was a heavy blow to our family and friends, who had always thought of him as an invincible force always looking out for everyone and everything he held dear. Robbed of our ability to comfort him when he needed us most was just as challenging as having to live through the void of him no longer being with us.

For birthdays and holidays, Dad loved to give gifts - especially to all the kids we knew. It’s no wonder, then, that between he and my mom, I ended up with a heart for gifting Barbie dolls to girls in need. With that in mind, I have my mom to thank for the challenge she posed to me when asking if we could incorporate Dad into The Barbie Girls Project. After all, his name was Ken, just like Barbie’s better half. Dad loved being spoiled rotten, and so, this day of giving, on Dad’s first heavenly birthday, is our way of keeping his legacy of giving unto others, and thus keeping his memory alive.

To celebrate with us, all you have to do is on July 27th, do something for someone - and use the hashtags #kensdayofgiving along with #thebarbiegirlsproject on social media to tell us what that was! It could be you want to honor someone you too have lost (also during the pandemic of 2020). Maybe you have a talent you want to share with others. Or, maybe it’s the day you send an encouraging note to someone you care about, just to let them know you’re thinking of them. Be a spontaneous giver to strangers or plan out what you’d like to do in advance. Really, there’s no wrong way to celebrate! Won’t you join my family and I as we honor Dad for this very important Ken’s Day of Giving? We look forward to all the joy we’ll be spreading in Dad’s name and can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with, too!

#kensdayofgiving #thebarbiegirlsproject #fathersday2021