Forum: For 179 years, YMCA has been every fathers’ kid helper
Published 1:30 am Saturday, June 17, 2023
By Peyton Tune / Herald Forum
Sunday is Father’s Day. We should know. We at the YMCA invented it. (No really, we did!)
The emotions on Father’s Day can depend on the relationship one had with their own father (or not) and their status as a Dad (or not). It’s easy for some to dismiss Father’s Day as commercial exploitation; another “Hallmark” holiday designed to sell coffee mugs, golf balls and ties. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend upwards of $20 billion on Father’s Day gifts this year. Wow. That’s a lot of coffee mugs and tie tacks!
But at the Y, we take Father’s Day pretty seriously.
Father’s Day in America was founded at the YMCA by Sonora Smart Dodd. Its first celebration was just over the Cascades in the Spokane YMCA’s building on June 19, 1910. Dodd’s father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children at the Y. This first celebration kicked off Dodd’s lifelong mission of promoting Father’s Day to national status. As the idea of celebrating dads gained traction, more individuals adopted the holiday. In 1972, President Richard Nixon officially signed Father’s Day into law making it a national holiday.
Here we are 113 years after that first Father’s Day helping all types of families raise their kids. Two-parent households, single parents and every other combination of family unit. The Y is for all.
Dads being involved in their children’s most formative years is core to what makes the Y the indispensable institution that it has become over our 179-year history. We recognize the influence father figures and adult male role models have on a child’s life. The concept of celebrating fathers aligns with the Y’s values and programs.
One of the Y’s foundational pillars is youth development, so we are dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for fathers to further involve themselves in the well-being and growth of their children. Multiple studies show that children with close relationships with their fathers and other adult male role models have more self-confidence, exhibit less depression, perform better academically, and engage in significantly less drug and alcohol use.
As a YMCA professional for more than 20 years, I have had the privilege to help a generation of neighbors and friends raise their kids in Y programs.
Five years ago, I became a dad.
It’s fun and humbling to be a parent. As my daughter approaches kindergarten in the fall, I’m quickly realizing the finite time I have with her before she launches into the world. It’s a daunting task to make sure she explores the world around her, develops healthy relationships, learns kindness and empathy, and stays curious as she navigates through life. I strive to give her opportunities to discover, grow and learn. It’s not always easy.
That’s where the Y comes in. There is something unique about the Y that helps dads connect with their kids. Our programs are designed to strengthen family connections and create healthy outcomes. From youth sports to open swim, family camp to Adventure Guides, we make it easier to engage with your kids in an intentional, meaningful way.
Many of you reading this have most likely been helped by the Y in one way or another. Maybe you learned to swim in our pools. Maybe you attended summer camp with a friend. Maybe you raised your kids at your local Y.
Dads and father figures, I challenge you to engage with the children in your life. Be present. Have adventures. Laugh. The Y is one resource that is here for you and its programs can act as a bridge between you and your children. You have one of the most important, if not THE most important, job raising a child in today’s ever-changing world.
What will I be doing on Father’s Day? Spending time with my daughter, possibly drinking coffee from a new mug and creating some memories. I’ll also be expressing gratitude for the Y and the way it supports my family and others in the community.
Happy Father’s Day to you all from the Y!
Peyton Tune is president and chief executive of the YMCA of Snohomish County. Learn more at ymca-snoco.org.
