The State of Fatherlessness in America

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All Pro Dad, a program of Family First, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this month. For two decades, All Pro Dad has helped millions of dads love their families well.

“The issue is not that we don’t have great dads in America,” said President Mark Merrill. “The issue is fatherlessness, and that we don’t have enough dads showing up for their greatest role.”

Statistically, 33% of children grow up without a father and 71% of mothers who give birth under the age of 25 are single. Those statistics equate to more than 18 million children who live in father-absent homes.

“Thousands of fathers have taken intentional steps to be a positive influence on both their children and communities,” said Dungy.

This Father’s Day, Merrill along with NFL Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, want to celebrate All Pro Dads who are committing to the next generation and challenge them to be a hero to the child who calls them dad and to a child who has no one to call dad.

“We believe that present fathers are the solution to many problems facing our youth,” said Merrill. “But, not every child has a positive father figure. We can all do more by just simply connecting with a young man or young woman who doesn’t have a father figure in their daily lives. It might mean coaching a sports team, bringing a child home for dinner to see a family sit around the table or showing up at an All Pro Dads Day school breakfast chapter.”

“The issue is not that we don’t have great dads in America,” said President Mark Merrill. “The issue is fatherlessness, and that we don’t have enough dads showing up for their greatest role.”

When All Pro Dad began twenty years ago, the fact that 70% of juvenile delinquents did not have a biological father present in the home was indicative of the impact of fatherlessness. Today, All Pro Dad is commissioning a national study to be released this fall to uncover the true impact of fatherlessness in our nation 20 years later.

“Thousands of fathers have taken intentional steps to be a positive influence on both their children and communities,” said Dungy. “Those men are heroes. Now, we are asking these men and those wishing to become heroes to accept our challenge by being the solution to issues caused by fatherlessness.”

He continues: “My wife and I were called to adopt children who needed a home. Whether fostering, adopting, mentoring, or simply providing a hug—every father can do more for one more child.”

There are hundreds of All Pro Dads Day chapters across the state of Florida and nationally. What began as a conversation between Merrill and Dungy has grown into one of the world’s largest parenting organizations.

Statistically, 33% of children grow up without a father and 71% of mothers who give birth under the age of 25 are single.

This Father’s Day, All Pro Dad is challenging every man to be a hero to the child who calls him dad and a hero to a child with no one to call dad. Here are three ways to accept the challenge: