Community Education
Being Neighborly | The No. 1 fan, and booster, of local sports teams
Pat Furman owns the Floatation Device Pub and Grill in Purdy, a job that takes up a lot of his time.
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But when he isn’t there, he’s at a ballfield or court of some kind, watching young athletes give it all they’ve got. And he finds many ways to give to them and support the Peninsula School District.
Whatever the sport, Furman is there cheering. When Melissa Miller coached softball at Peninsula High School, she typically saw Furman in the front row of the bleachers, even at away games. And when her son, who is now 22, needed to sell more fundraising Seahawks cards to go to football camp, Furman stepped up.
“I put it on Facebook to see if anyone wanted to buy some of the cards, and he messaged me and said he’d take 15 of them,” Miller said. “He saw the need, and he did it. I know that he has done that for other people.”
Pat Furman supports local youth in many ways, and has been a huge fan of not only the athletes, but the Peninsula School District as a whole. Photo courtesy of Jenn Freedom
Jenn Freedom said Furman treats every child he meets like family.
“He is the biggest fan and advocate of young athletes,” Freedom said. “He generously donates to various causes and organizes fundraisers to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate in sports.”
But a kid doesn’t have to be an athlete to receive Furman’s generosity. He hosts Santa at the Float each Christmas, Freedom said.
“During the Christmas season, he goes out of his way to provide presents for all children, spreading joy and happiness,” Freedom said. “He exemplifies what it means to give back and support our youth.”
Miller can’t even remember how she met Furman, but she believes it was on the softball field. One Christmas her daughter received a leather ball from Santa at The Float, with her name on it, she said.
Deb Krishnadasan met Furman about 15 years ago and was impressed with his generosity and support of area youth.
“He has been an incredible, huge supporter of our athletic teams, and if the teams go on to district or state competitions, he will often host a team breakfast before their important game or match,” she said. “He just really continues to lift up our athletes and students.”
Furman hosts a pre-game rally at the restaurant for the Fish Bowl football game between Peninsula and Gig Harbor. Then fans load up onto a chartered bus to go to the game, Miller said.
Krishnadasan said she has approached Furman in the past for support of the school bond and levy that helped to build new schools in the district. She served on the Peninsula School District Board of Directors, and now serves as state senator for the 26th District. She said that Furman helped spread the word about the bond and levy on the ballot, and helped get it passed.
Emily Ducharme has watched Furman support youth in the area in many ways. He has allowed sports teams to hold fundraiser car washes at the Float, she said. Her son designed the new Float logo, and she said Furman was excited to use it as an opportunity to give in another way.
“He (Furman) printed the logo on T-shirts, and different things, and sold them, and then donated the money back to the district,” Ducharme said.
Furman’s friends say that he’s the unofficial mayor of Purdy, because he keeps an eye on what’s happening, is so friendly, and has helped countless numbers of kids in the area.
“He finds random ways to give back to everyone,” Ducharme said. “He is probably one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met in my life.”