Usually seen in a suit and tie, Clark College President Bob Knight was almost unrecognizable in shorts, an athletic shirt and a penguin hat on his head, perched on a seat above a tank of water at the Mill Creek Pub last Thursday.
The Battle Ground pub was hosting one of 17 different events in the Southwest Washington area for “Give-More-24,” a 24-hour long period of fundraising for 128 charities in the Clark, Cowlitz and Multnomah County area. The pub donated 25 percent of its proceeds to charity.
At this event, people paid $10 for two tries at throwing a ball at a button that would release a volunteer, such as Knight, into the tub of water below them. Those in the dunk tank were local givers of the community who were asked to participate in the philanthropic event. Leadership Clark County had asked Knight to participate in the event in support of their giving efforts.
Charities present at Mill Creek were Leadership Clark County, Vancouver Police Activities League, Connect Battle Ground and the Rocksolid Community Teen Center.
Owner of Mill Creek Pub Russell Brent said that the pub has been involved with “Give-More-24” since it began. Brent himself later stepped into the tank to give his employees a chance to dunk him.
This year’s event raised $920,699 overall, just short of reaching its $1 million goal, said President of the Community Foundation Jennifer Rhoads.
Even though the weather outside was overcast, dunk tank volunteers didn’t seem to mind. “I’ve been in worse,” Knight said. “In ranger school we took cold showers in the middle of winter.”
According to their website, the Community Foundation created the “Give-More-24” three years ago hoping to “inspire philanthropy for a more vibrant and engaged community.”
