School asks, is inundated with surrogate dads
Jan 12, 2018, 7:47 AM | Updated: Oct 1, 2024, 7:39 am
A South Texas middle school had a big problem when planning their “Breakfast with Dads” event. They knew some students don’t have a father in their life.
One of the organizers, Kristina Dove, posted to social media: “Men needed. The reality of a great event like this is that a lot of our kids will not have a dad present. We are in need of at least 50 or more male mentors.”
Instead of 50 dads, 600 surrogate fathers showed up to Billy Dade Middle School and filled the auditorium. They shared life lessons as simple as how to tie a tie.
ABC News had some of the kids send in videos to describe what it was like. One boy said it made him feel special and said it was a “once in a lifetime experience.”
The dads got a lot of out of it, too.
“When I walked in the room, words could not describe the feeling that came over me,” one said.
“It was absolutely a life-changing event. Our young men need us and it’s our time to pay it forward,” another dad said.
Dove says she continues to get calls from volunteer dads who want to help with future events and perhaps make the leap into a permanent dad-mentor role for one of those boys at Billy Earl Dade Middle School.
Words cannot describe the impact mentoring youth can have on both you and your mentee. Powerful to see a community of fellow men and fathers come together to wrap their arms around or young men. Thank you for having me out. pic.twitter.com/2fTicFpzws
— Jason Rodriguez (@DISDPD_AChiefJR) December 14, 2017
