TEAMDAD Created to Help Men Become Better Fathers
David and Peggy Hirsch created the new website, along with the Great Dads Coin.
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About 24 million children grow up without a father present in their home. In many communities nationwide, 1 out of 3 newborns don’t have a dad’s name listed on their birth certificate. Responsible fathering is something Barrington Hills resident David Hirsch takes very seriously, and he has started a new social business venture to encourage dads everywhere to be more present.
Teamdad.com is David and Peggy Hirsch’s new creation. The website was created to complement Hirsch’s first fatherhood organization, Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, or IFI.
“I’d give IFI a B+ or A- in regards to awareness,” Hirsch said. “We do a great job, we do things in a very big way. We engaged 18,000 kids to write essays about their dads this year. That’s really an effort to raise awareness. When we go to helping dads become better father figures, I’d give us a C.”
That’s where TEAMDAD comes into play. The website offers more resources for fathers and father figures to improve on their parenting skills and help them become more actively involved in their children’s lives.
The website offers a self-assessment tool where dads can get immediate feedback on areas in which they need to improve. The site also lists all of the responsible-fathering organizations around the country, which is something no other national organization has done before.
“Most organizations just promote what they do. What we’ve done is turned that model upside down. We want to help promote all of these organizations that are doing good work in the name of children and fathers, so we’ve databased about 400 organizations that we’ve made available by state and state resources,” Hirsch said.
TEAMDAD also is offering a Great Dads Coin; a keepsake meant to honor your own father, and help those without one. Everything printed on the coin has meaning to it. The outer ring of the coin features the core values great dads possess: Love, honesty, patience and commitment. The numbers 247365 represent the everlasting commitment a father gives his children. The bald eagle in the center of the coin represents protection and guardianship.
The handmade coins cost $15 and are meant to be given as gifts to the father figures in our lives.
“The proceeds from this endeavor are going to go towards promoting responsible fathering,” Hirsch said. “In Joliet, we hope to make a check presentation for the Children of Fallen Soldier’s Relief Fund. That is just one of the many organizations that will benefit directly from the orders of the Great Dads Coin.”
Hirsch hopes TEAMDAD and the Great Dads Coin will help men all over the country learn to be better dads.
“It’s something that we hope will inspire and equip men to be great dads. It’s our vision that we’ll have dads, perhaps thousands of them, carrying these coins as a daily reminder of the relationship that they share with their kids,” Hirsch said.
To learn more about TEAMDAD, and to purchase a Great Dads Coin for Father's Day or another occasion, visit teamdad.com. Coins must be purchased by June 10 for guaranteed delivery by Father's Day.
joe cronin
8:23 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Three cheers for David and Peggy!! David has been a long time huge advocate of the fatherhood initiative. Peggy has been there with him every step of the way. Congrats on your newest endeavor to support the connection of Dads and father figures to their children and young people to their Dads or their father figures. TEAMDAD....love it.
Dan Arenov
11:56 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
this is the biggest problem in black urban communities. One of these days black 'leaders' will finally address this. Currently, they are in denial. Black kids are shooting other black kids every single day...many don't have a father figure. Who do our black 'leaders' hold accountable for this tragedy? Certainly not themselves or the culture of victimhood and entitlement that they have fostered.
Ina Burd
2:39 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Nice going Peggy and David. I shall pass this on. See you soon.
Ina Burd
Michael Malone
3:51 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
David & Peggy,
Thank you for this program and your long-term commitment to the importance of fatherhood. While reading essays this year for the IFI program I found myself touched by the selflessness of some of the father figures. No need to create a special coin for the father figures because they are fathers in the most important sense of the word.
Best wishes,
Wayne Sneed
6:37 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Thanks David & Peggy..
I purchased 3 coins - 1 for my son, 1 for my son-in-law who both are dads.
And 1 for myself to remind me of my dad who died at age 42, when I was in high school, while also reminding me to be the best grandfather I can be to my 5 grandchildren.
Barry Murtaugh
5:56 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Thanks to David and Peggy I was able to get 10 coins for the Glen Ellyn Murtaugh family dads Chris, Jason, Colin, Shawn. The Texas and Evanston Cashions, Mike, Mark, Dick, and my son Sean in Tempe, friends at St. Anne, Gerry Rodosky,a great dad himself, who introduced it to the USMC Family Preparedness Program in California Marine bases. Reminded them about the daily Job One for a Dad and to get some for the great dads they know in their connections and communities. Well Done All.
Candy Brock Kloster
3:58 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
David I think your self-assessment tool where dads can get immediate feedback on areas in which they need to improve is outstanding. It's one thing to ask or tell someone to do better but when you give the real tools to move forward well that just down right cool.
David Hirsch
5:22 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
The old adage is "men don't pull over to ask for directions when lost." With something as important as fathering, we can use all the help we can get. The TEAMDAD Self Assessment Tool, is a good place to start.
Ashley Fox
5:40 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
What an amazing program. As a classroom teacher, I know the impact not having a father has on a child. There are so many fathers who are uneducated when it comes to their children. This program will get fathers on the right track. Great work David and Peggy!
Clem Martin
3:27 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Congratulations David and Peggy. The resources provided by TEAMDAD can assist all fathers foster stronger relationships with their children. Working in education, I have been able to witness the importance of fathers who work hard supporting and encouraging their children. Keep up the good work.
David Hirsch
7:16 am on Saturday, June 9, 2012
The most direct way make a difference is to get dads more involved in the their child's education. Greater Father Involvement = Great Student Achievement.