For a third straight year, growing beards has provided a boost for a men’s recovery program in Penticton.

The Discovery House was given just under $4,200 on Tuesday from Penticton’s Okanagan Beard Festival — a friendly competition that took place in March, judging beards and moustaches based on their lengths and styles.

That money donated is nearly equal to the approximately $4,300 the Beard Fest raised in the past two years combined.

To show gratitude for the donation, Discovery House formally dedicated one of its rooms to the Beard Fest on Tuesday.

Executive director Jerome Abraham says the donations from the Beard Fest go a long way in helping operate the 13-bed recovery home.

"We only have about 25 per cent of the cost for clients covered by assisted living, and then the rest we have to make up. So it's really important for us to have community partners that are making such significant contributions," Abraham said.

Beard Fest organizers Tim Tweed and Peter Beauchamp say it was a no-brainer to give back to Discovery House when they started the event three years ago.

"We thought what better place to put the money that we raise than to help the male community predominantly. Their whole idea of 'save a father, save a son' certainly struck home," Beauchamp said.

Apart from the money raised, Abraham says Beard Fest’s donations help spread community awareness about Discovery House and has led to volunteers being recruited.

"So we really appreciate that part of it too. It's also just helping to break down some of the stigmas of addiction and what addiction looks like."