Hope Volleyball Summerfest serves up fun and support for charity at Mooney’s Bay

One of the largest volleyball events in the world returned to Ottawa’s Mooney’s Bay Saturday. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

The sweltering heat in the nation’s capital wasn’t enough to keep thousands of volleyball enthusiasts indoors.

A sea of players filled the courts at Mooney’s Bay on Saturday for the annual Hope Volleyball Summerfest.

There are more than 600 teams and 6,000 players playing on the courts this year. Hope Volleyball Summerfest is one of the largest one-day beach volleyball events in the world and it’s something players look forward to every year.

One of those is Jaime Sharma, playing with her work colleagues.

“Support a great cause. Be here as a team,” she said of why she joined.

In their second year attending the event, she says it’s fun with them no matter what.

“I think we’re losing right now, but the vibe is strong,” she said. “We keep trying. We’re staying positive. We’re reframing our losses.”

While it’s all fun and games for the players, it’s also important for the charities who rely on the event.

Laura Andrews, executive director Hope Volleyball Summerfest, says more than $100,000 will be raised this year. She says more than $4.75 million has been raised since it began 43 years ago for local charities.

“The people that keep coming back here year after year – I can’t thank them enough,” she said.

“It’s amazing,” she says of the numbers raised. “Every year, it’s absolutely amazing.”

The charities being supported this year include Upstream Ottawa, the Ottawa Humane Society, the Centre for Treatment of Sexual Abuse and Childhood Trauma, The Door Youth Centre and Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB).

Andrews says that every charity has a project they apply for.

Malik Ayass, executive director of the Door Youth Centre located on Somerset Street West, says the funding is extremely important.

“Without the support of the community and the volunteers and a third-party funder like volleyball, it’s impossible for us to manage and keep our doors open without such support,” he said. “It means a lot to us and we’re very grateful for everybody.”

Patti Murphy with the Youth Services Bureau Foundation says the money will go towards their life skills programming for youth who live in their shelters, which includes teaching youth how to cook and budget.

“We know that funds coming in are from individuals or from companies, small and large,” said Murphy. “Having that care come back to us in a really fun environment like today in the hot sun and the music going, It’s really beautiful. It feels like a big family picnic, honestly.”

The final fundraising total won’t be clear for a few days as organizers work to count all the donations but Andrews says people can continue to donate online.

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