When Fathers Engage, Children Thrive: A Father's Day Message
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Dear Friend of Fathers.com,
As Father's Day approaches, I am grateful for people like you who care about dads and the families that depend on them.
Whether you are a father, grandfather, mentor, ministry leader, or simply someone who believes that fathers matter, your interest in the work of the National Center for Fathering connects you to something significant — work that reaches fathers and families every week with encouragement, resources, and practical tools for becoming better dads.
For more than three decades, we have been privileged to walk alongside fathers as they strive to become more involved, intentional, and effective in the lives of their children. Along the way, we have learned something that research confirms and experience repeatedly demonstrates:
When fathers engage, children thrive.
A father's presence and love shape a child in ways that echo through a lifetime. His encouragement builds confidence. His guidance forms character. His steady engagement develops resilience. And the future his children step into looks better because he showed up. Healthy fathering influences not only one generation but often several generations that follow.
Every week, more than 50,000 fathers and families connect with us through fathers.com, our resources, articles, social media, events, and training opportunities. Behind every number is a story — a dad seeking wisdom, a grandfather wanting to leave a legacy, a young father determined to break negative patterns, or a family looking for hope and support.
I have had the privilege of meeting thousands of fathers. Some have led their families faithfully for years. Others are just beginning their fathering journey. Still others are working hard to overcome difficult childhood experiences, father wounds, or personal setbacks. What they share is a desire to become the best father possible.
That is why our mission remains as important today as when we began.
We believe every father can grow.
We believe every child deserves the love and involvement of a caring father.
We believe that strengthening fathers strengthens families, churches, communities, and ultimately our nation.
That’s the vision that drives everything we do. And this Father's Day week, I want to invite you to be part of our efforts to reach even more dads.
Your gift will help us expand our practical fathering resources and develop new digital tools that reach dads where they are. It will provide encouragement to fathers who feel isolated and equip the churches and community organizations that serve them. Most importantly, it will help us remind fathers that what they do matters — and that they are not alone.
Many of the fathers we serve may never attend a conference, read a parenting book, or seek professional coaching. Yet through an article, an email, a video, or a fathering resource that reaches them at the right moment, something shifts. A dad decides to show up differently. To be more present. To love better.
A father who becomes more present, patient, loving, and engaged can alter the trajectory of an entire family.
That is the power of this work.
As you celebrate Father's Day, please know how much your friendship, prayers, encouragement, and support mean to us. Thank you for believing in fathers, investing in their families, and helping us carry this mission forward.
Together, we are strengthening fathers and changing generations.
With gratitude,
Dr. Ken Canfield
Founder, National Center for Fathering / fathers.com
P.S. Somewhere each week, a dad reads an article or attends a training event and takes a step toward being the father his kids need. Your gift makes that possible. Thank you for being part of that story.
