Be a Part of My Fatherhood Fifty

As many of you know a couple of years ago I joined an organization entitled the National Fatherhood Initiative (http://www.fatherhood.org/). Growing up with a good dad I always recognized the importance of a good dad, but having heard the stories of both good and bad dads over the past couple of years I have been deeply touched about the importance of helping dads become involved, responsible and committed in the lives of their children and families.

I don't normally ask for others to become involved with all that God reveals to me or that I become interested in, but I have felt an extra need in this area. The body of research that forms the basis for the National Fatherhood Initiative's (NFI's) important work is overwhelming. Currently, one out of every three children in the U.S. is growing up in a home without their biological father. This number rises to 2 out of 3 in African-American communities. Studies consistently show that kids who grow up without fathers in the home, on average, do worse across every economic, psychological, social, and educational measurement. Kids from father absent homes are:

• Five times more likely to live in poverty


• Three times more likely to fail in school


• Two times more likely to abuse drugs


• Two times more likely to become involved in crime


• Two times more likely to be abused and neglected


• Three times more likely to commit suicide

In addition to these staggering statistics, we recently released a study titled, "The One Hundred Billion Dollar Man: The Annual Public Costs of Father Absence." This study was carried out by independent researchers who found that the issue of father absence is costing the federal government $100 billion a year in the form of support for single-mother households and child support enforcement. Clearly, the issue of father absence has far reaching and damaging consequences for our nation's children and for our society as a whole.

Since 1994, NFI has taken an innovative approach to addressing the problem of father absence.

I am now reaching out to you as my personal friends because God has given me the vision of rasing up 49 other individuals that are committed to this father cause. I am asking you to join me to form a group that I am going to call the "fatherhood fifty." All I am asking you to do is to say 50 prayers over 50 days concerning NFI, fatherhood, your children and the children that go to bed everynight without a father.

Additionally, I am asking that you make a one time gift of $50.00 to the National Fatherhood Initiative. Please join me in this important cause. You can join me by 1. Sending me an e-mail committing to be one of the fatherhood 50. 2. Send a check made out to NFI to me at 101 Lake Forest Blvd Gaithersburg MD 20877 and 3. Starting November 13th pray for NFI and for your children every day for the rest of the year (50 Days). Thanks again and I look forward to accomplishing great things with your help.

Ken