The first of 100 Father’s Days took place on June 19, 1910 when Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington decided to honor her father. William Jackson Smart was a civil war veteran, a widower and single father to Dodd and her five siblings. Without his involvement, who knows what would have happened to Dodd and this national holiday. 

Sunday, June 21, 2009 will mark the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day, and never before has the role of responsible fathers been more important. 

Currently, more than 25-million American children are living without their fathers. According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, children who grow up without fathers are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime, nine times more likely to drop out of school and 20 times more likely to end up in prison. Yet, as these grim statistics mount, a national trend is brewing to celebrate and encourage responsible fatherhood. 

This year on Father’s Day, groups across the country will hold symposiums, conferences and events to celebrate dad. In Denver, the Be There for Your Kids campaign will host the 2009 Colorado Fatherhood Rally on Saturday, June 20 in the Meadows at City Park. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the Rally will include a fatherhood recognition program featuring Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, other notable fathers and the 2009 Be There for Your Kids Awards winners.  

The Colorado Rally will also include a special message from a rally taking place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The host organization for this event, the National Partnership for Community Leadership, has challenged more than one million fathers, fatherhood organizations and supporters across the country to come together and celebrate and encourage responsible fatherhood. Speakers for the event will include Ed Gordon, broadcaster and founder of Daddy’s Promise, U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis, D-IL, and many more well-known fathers. President Barack Obama has also received an invitation to attend. 

As someone who grew up without a father, President Obama is leading the charge for responsible fatherhood. He has declared the issue to be one of the top priorities of his administration. Through the U.S. Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, he plans to support American fathers by encouraging good parenting, stressing economic stability and emphasizing personal responsibility for fathers. Obama has also reintroduced The Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act, a bill he co-sponsored during his tenure in the Senate. 

“Fatherhood is both a privilege and a responsibility,” said Rich Batten, fatherhood and family specialist with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). “The fact that we are expecting so many people in Denver, in Washington, D.C., and at other events around the country, highlights a national commitment to paternal involvement. Everyone who is able to attend one of these rallies should in order to show their support for fathers and the future of American children.” 

The 2009 Colorado Fatherhood Rally will provide fathers and children with an opportunity to support the issue of responsible fatherhood and spend quality time together. Family-friendly activities including the Denver Public Library Reading Rocket, entertainment, volleyball/basketball, arts and crafts, the Denver Aquarium mascots, educational tents, giveaways and more, will take place throughout the day. Local fatherhood programs and community organizations will also be in attendance to distribute information.  

Parking for the event will be available at East High School and along the Esplanade leading into the Park. More information on the 2009 Colorado Fatherhood Rally can be found at www.coloradodads.com.