Thursday, August 21, 2014

2014 Million Father March Can Make America Better!




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Daytona, Florida Joins the
2014 Million Father March



Bethune-Cookman College Students Step-up to Lead Million Father March in Central Florida

In Volusia County, Florida, the 2nd annual Million Father March at Turie T. Smith Elementary School took place.
Bethune-Cookman University students, city leaders and parents lined the driveway and welcomed students on their first day of school.
"I'm really happy to be here today," said Zykerria Franklin.

The Million Father March is a national event that promotes a father's active involvement in the education of their children.
"It's a wonderful thing that the school has done. Just to bring the kids in and they're very excited about the Bethune Cookman students coming over to greet them," said Amanda Morgan.
About a dozen fraternity members waited at the end of the march to shake hands and pass out goodies to kids. They also wished them a great school year.
"A lot of these young kids may not have fathers in the home. Just to see students that are currently in college, just to see professionals that perhaps they don't see all the time here to support them, and to let them know that we're here for them for the whole entire year. I think that really helps them," said Ryan Griffin, an academic advisor and member of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Bethune Cookman University partnered with the elementary school last year to initiate the event. Griffin said their involvement doesn't stop here.
"Our students will still come back to the school and mentor, tutor and do various things with them even outside of just today," said Griffin.

Zykerria believes the Million Father March is a good thing. It's not only a great way to start the first day of school, it helps motivate her to get a great education.
"I'm thinking about graduation day, I'm thinking about my college scholarship. I'm thinking about a lot of things," said Zykerria Franklin.
Turie T. Smith Elementary is the only school in Volusia County that participates in the Million Father March.
Charlotte, North Carolina Joins the 2014 Million Father March

Project L.I.F.T. is joining schools around the nation in asking fathers and community men to escort a child to school. This national effort, which is organized by The Black Star Project, is dubbed the Million Father March. The goal is to increase male involvement in education, which has been shown to have a positive impact on educational and social outcomes for students.

Fathers and community men are asked to walk a child to school on August 26.
Omaha, Nebraska Joins the
2014 Million Father March
Mount View Elementary sees great turnout for Million Father March

Click Here to see and hear full story
Plantersville, South Carolina Joins the 2014 Million Father March
Plantersville to participate in
Million Father March

Friday, August 15, 2014
The Million Father March is an opportunity for fathers to join their children for breakfast when they bring them to school at Plantersville Elementary on Aug. 20, at 7:20.
The Million Father March has grown out of recognition of the power of male involvement in the education of all students. A father who actively participates in the educational and social developmental life of a child is invaluable and irreplaceable.
A 2004 summary study by The Parent Institute showed that at schools where teachers reported high levels of outreach to parents, reading test scores rose 50 percent higher, and math test scores 40 percent higher, than in schools where teachers reported low levels of outreach.
The Million Father March is an opportunity for all men to show their commitment to the educational lives of their children on the first day of school and throughout the school year.
The Black Star Project's Million Father March aims to post men near the front doors at schools with sizable Black student populations to create an honor guard of strong, positive men who support all children at that school.
The Million Father March marks the beginning of a year-long educational, social, financial, emotional and spiritual commitment by men to children.
Sacramento, California Joins
the 2014 Million Father March
Sacramento Black Parallel School Board Meeting
The Black Parallel School Board and the Black Star Project are encouraging
fathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, godfathers, cousins, babies' daddies and other significant male caregivers to take their children to school on the first day. When men are involved in the educational lives of their children, children perform better in school.
Employers are asked to allow fathers and other male caregivers to take off from work for two to thr ee hours (preferably with pay) to accompany their children to school on this first fall day to help get the school year started right. Fathers and other men should be welcomed guests at their children's school.
Some schools will have information, activities and refreshments. Men across America who support the Million Father March should arrive at school with their children 15 to 30 minutes before the starting bell. Fathers and other men should only go into schools if invited in by school staff. Otherwise, men should leave after their children enter the school
For more information contact the Black Parallel School Board at (916) 484-3729 or the Black Star Project at www.BlackStarProject.org.
Evansville, Indiana Joins the 2014 Million Father March


EVANSVILLE - The first day of school can be stressful for students, but the Million Father March aims ease any apprehension they may feel by having fathers or other significant male figures in their lives provide an "escort of safety, support and encouragement" as they re-enter the classroom.
Bakersfield, California Joins
the 2014 Million Father March
Miami, Florida Joins the
2014 Million Father March
Urban League of Greater Miami Leads South Florida Efforts for Nationwide Back-to-School Million Father March
MIAMI, FL, August 13, 2014 - The Urban League of Greater Miami is joining forces with organizations from more than 700 cities for a nationwide back-to-school Million Father March. The movement calls on fathers to make the commitment to their children's education by escorting their kids on the first day of school on August 18, 2014. This show of solidarity reinforces the Urban League's Achievement Matters program and seeks to empower parents to play a more active role in their child's education.
T. Willard Fair, Chairman,
Miami Urban League
Spearheaded by The Black Star Project in Chicago, the Million Father March will play out at thousands of schools across America with more than 1 million men expected to participate. The movement is founded on research that indicates that children whose fathers take an active role in their educational lives earn better grades, score higher on tests, enjoy school more, and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Participants in the event include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers, and friends of the family. Although this event is created by Black men, women and men of all ethnicities are also encouraged to take their children to school on their first day.
"We're asking fathers throughout South Florida to join the movement and send a loud message that their children matter to them," says T. Willard Fair, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami. "We believe that the role of a father is critically important to a child's future and the path they take in life and that better fathers become better husbands and create stronger communities."
School administrators are encouraged to create an inviting environment that welcomes the fathers on the first day of school with refreshments, activities, and information about upcoming programs. Businesses are asked to give fathers and men who participate two hours off that morning (with pay) to take their children to school. Participating men will also be encouraged to volunteer at schools throughout the year.
Greater Urban League of Miami Empowering People
The Million Father March is managed by The Black Star Project. This year marks eleven years since the first Million Father March in 2004. For more information about the South Florida efforts, contact the Urban League of Greater Miami at (305) 696-4450.
Chicago, Illinois Joins the
2014 Million Father March

Along with these cities:

Gadsen, Theodore, Panola, Birmingham and Birmingham, Alabama; Anchorage, Alaska; Cave Creek, Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson, Arizona; Texarkana, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Conway and Crossett, Arkansas; Marin City, Antioch, Pittsburg, Benton, Carson City, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, Moreno Valley, Perris, Sacramento, San Diego, Sanfernando, San Francisco, Carson, Gardena, Hayward, Inglewood, San Jose, Riverside and Oroville, California; Colorado Springs, Golden and Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware; Atlantic Beach, Daytona Beach, Hillsborough County, Homestead, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Liberty City, Miami, Orlando, Pasco, Pinellas, Poinciana, Polk County, Tampa Bay, West Palm Beach, Williston, Winter Haven, Maitland, Palatka, Cresent City, Interlachen, San Mateo, Daytona Beach, Fort Pierce, Riviera Beach, Hialeah, Pensacola and Quincy, Florida; Abbeville, Atlanta, Augusta, Lawrenceville, Pitts, Rochelle, Snellville, Sparta, Powder Springs, Savannah and Jackson, Georgia; Beach Park, Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago - South Side, Chicago - North Side, Chicago - West Side, Country Club Hills, Danville, Hazel Crest, Lansing, Lynwood, Markham, Oak Forest, Riverdale, Schaumburg, Springfield, Winthrop Harbor, Zion, Peoria, Merrionette Park, Alton, East St. Louis, Cahokia, Centreville, Alorton, Belleville and Fairview Heights, Illinois; East Chicago, Evansville, Indianapolis, Gary, Greenwood and Shelbyville, Indiana; Des Moines, Federal Way, Seattle and Davenport, Iowa; Lexington, Kentucky; Shreveport, New Orleans, Lafayette and New Orleans, Louisiana; Prince Georges County, Maryland; Hyde Park, Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts; Benton Harbor, Dearborn, Detroit, Detroit - South East, Ecorse, River Rouge, Covert, Lacey, Mount Clemens, Clinton Township, Grand Rapids, Ypsilanti, Battle Creek, Inkster, Pontiac and Auburn Hills, Michigan; Duluth, St. Cloud and Minneapolis, Minnesota; Jackson, Mississippi; Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Las Vegas, Nevada; Camden, Newark, Elizabeth, Bridgeton and Plainfield, New Jersey; Albuquerque and Jal, New Mexico; Bronx, Brooklyn, Geneva, Highland, Jamaica, Lloyd, New York City, Ossining, Queens, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans, Brooklyn, Central Islip, Rochester, Roosevelt, Binghamton and Rockaway Park, New York; Charlotte, Clinton, Garland, Harrells, Raleigh, Roseboro, Faison, Winston-Salem and Wadesboro, North Carolina; Lima, Akron, St. Mary's, Ada, Spencerville, Van Wert and Columbus, Ohio; Oklahoma City and Midwest City, Oklahoma; Darby, Philadelphia and Yeadon, Pennsylvania; Lancaster, Georgetown, St. Stephen, Charleston, Summerville, James Island, Johns Island and Greenville, South Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; Paris, Alamo, Beaumont, Crockett, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Fort Worth, Grove, Jefferson, Lancaster, Longview, Marshall, Pharr, San Antonio, San Juan, Plano, Grand Prairie, Houston, Austin and Katy, Texas; Haymarket, Monterey, Newport News, Portsmouth, Gainesville and Bristow;Lakewood, Otis Orchards and Puyallup, Washington; Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Kemmerer and Diamondville, Wyoming. (Listing alphabetical by states).

Click Here to register your school or your city for the 2014 Million Father March or call 773.285.9600 to register.
Call 773.285.9600 for your school, band, cheer team, acrobatics team, dance team, drill team, chess team, sports team, church, community organization, business, fraternity, sorority, marching unit or social club to participate in one of the best back-to-school parades in the country.
The 2014 Million Father March
Back-to-School Parade
Saturday, August 30, 2014, 10:00 am

Click Here to apply to be in the 2014 Million Father March Parade.

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