Over 100 years ago, while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, Sonora Louis Smart Dodd wondered why there was no similar holiday for fathers. One of six children, Dodd’s father was a single father and she felt he and others deserved to be honored. After securing support from ministers in Spokane, Wash., her idea came to fruition with the first Father's Day celebration at the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Many years passed before the day became a national holiday, but today we use the day to honor the fathers and father figures in our lives.
On Sunday, June 17, the Portage Township YMCA joins the nation in celebrating Father’s Day and recognizing the influence fathers and adult male role models have in children’s lives. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 million—or one in three—children live without their biological fathers. Societal factors such as unemployment, work-life balance or a lack of resources can affect a father’s ability to seek support in strengthening his parenting skills and becoming more engaged in the lives of his children. The Y, a leading nonprofit in fostering positive youth development, is dedicated to providing both resources and opportunities for fathers to further involve themselves in the well-being and development of their children.
Studies show that children with close relationships with their fathers and other adult male role models have more self-confidence and exhibit less depression, perform better academically and engage in significantly less drug and alcohol use.
“On Father’s Day, we celebrate dads and all male adult role models as we recognize how important it is for children to grow up with men who are committed, responsible and involved,” said Amber Bardsley, School-Age Child Care Coordinator, Portage Township YMCA. “Dads need support to be the best parents and caregivers they can be, and this holiday helps to remind us of that.”
The Portage Township YMCA offers a variety of programs that foster understanding and companionship between children and their caregivers such as Youth Sports, Swim Lessons, and Parent & Child Classes. In communities across the country, the Y is committed to ensuring that the 9 million children and teens in YMCA programs reach their full potential by helping them grow—physically, mentally and socially—from young children into active, engaged members of their communities. To learn more about programs and activities available at the Portage Township YMCA, contact the Welcome Center at (219) 762-9622, or visit ymcaofportage.org.