http://www.4fathers.org

IFI is the country's first state-wide non-profit fatherhood organization whose
mission is connecting children and fathers by promoting responsible fathering and
helping equip men to become better fathers or father-figures.
 

Illinois Fatherhood Initiative

e-Newsletter   January 2008

4Fathers.org:  (800) 996-DADS

 

Forward this to a friend and have them subscribe to this complimentary

e-Newsletter by sending an e-mail to info@4fathers.org

 

Mission: Connecting children and fathers by promoting responsible fathering

and helping equip men to become better fathers and father figures.

 

Father Fact of the Month:

 

Good Dads Are Like Post-It Notes, They Stick Around.

 

 

In the January Issue: 
 

 

 

 

 JAY PAYLEITNER hired as new Executive Director


 

As a radio producer and development consultant, his work has helped provide millions of dollars in aid to refugees
in Africa and southeast Asia, recruit hundreds of volunteers for international relief work, and send thousands
of Christmas gifts to the children of inmates here in the U.S. 
Jay has been a consultant and affiliate writer with the National Center for Fathering in Shawnee Mission, Kansas for more than 15 years.
He is the author of three books including Once Upon a Tandem and The One Year Life Verse Devotional; and also a creativity trainer, speaker and storyteller. 

Jay and his high school sweetheart, Rita, have five kids and an occasional foster baby and live in St. Charles, Illinois.

Jay's email - payleitner@aol.com
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  TONY D'ALEXANDER from Kraft Joins Board


Tony was appointed a board member in December 2007.  Tony is the Director of State and Local Taxes for Kraft Foods, Inc.  He and his wife have 2 children and reside in Elmhurst, IL.

 

 

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 2008 IFI / CHICAGO WHITE SOX ESSAY CONTEST Deadline is March 7, 2008
 

IFI / Chicago White Sox
Fatherhood Essay Contest - 2008

"WHAT MY FATHER DREAMS FOR ME"

Click here to download pdf file of the contest materials

2008 IFI / White Sox Fatherhood Essay Contest
 

“WHAT MY FATHER DREAMS FOR ME”

Dear Principal / Teacher:

As the IFI Essay Contest Chairman, I would like to invite you and your school to participate in our 2008 Father Essay Contest.

As a former teacher and principal, I encourage you to take advantage of this writing experience for your students.  For 9 years, my students at Bradley West Elementary School, Bradley, IL, participated in this contest.  The students and school benefited directly from this contest.  The school was among the top schools each year.  Students thoroughly enjoyed writing about their fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and father-figures.  The fathers in return enjoyed reading what their children had written about them.

I retired from Bradley West School in 2006 and was asked to become a volunteer board member for the IFI.  Since I truly believe in the mission of this organization, of course, I said “Yes”.  I was appointed as a board member in November of 2006.

Below is a list of the benefits of the Writing Contest:

  • Every student will receive a Certificate of Participation and a coupon sheet for discounts, free merchandise, and Chicago White Sox tickets.
  • 156 essay semi-finalists (12 per grade), their fathers/father figures, etc, and teachers will be invited to attend the Faces Celebration at U.S. Cellular Field on a Saturday in May 2008 as our guests.
  • 12 of the essay finalists will receive $1000 Bright Start College Scholarships and will be invited with their fathers to attend the 2008 IFI Fatherhood Dinner Celebration in Chicago in June.
  • The top schools that participate in the essay contest will be awarded prizes.
  • Schools that have 100% participation will receive additional prizes.

I trust with so many benefits you will consider having your students participate in this contest.  There is absolutely no entry fee or cost for you or the students.

Click here to download PDF file of the contest materials

Thanks for your time and consideration.  Please email us at 4fathers@earthlink.net if you have questions or need help with the contest.

 

Wayne E. Sneed
IFI Board Member

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 Needed: Volunteers to Evaluate Essays
 

Host a Volunteer Reading Center
 
2008 marks the 11th annual IFI White Sox Essay Contest. Upwards of 30,000 K-12 students throughout The State will write essays this year around the theme "What My Father Dreams for Me."
 
If you have participated in helping us evaluate all these essays, you know exactly what a powerfully moving and often funny experience it is to read the thoughts of these kids. You also may notice a minor change in our theme this year, from What my father means to me. 
 
We decided to change it up a little this time and try to help get these kids focused on their future and the dreams their Father, Step Father, Grand Father, or Father Figure may have for them. 

Whether you have hosted a Volunteer Reading Center, or are new to IFI, and just thinking about it, please do consider adding your name to the list of companies and organizations that take a few hours out of one day in one week during March 24th through April 11th, 2008.

 
Bank of America
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Booz Allen Hamilton
Chicago Tribune
Chicago White Sox
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Cook County Corrections Boot Camp
Deloitte & Touche
Freeborn & Peters
Gallup Chicago
Goodwill
Jewel/Albertsons
KPMG
Scottish Rite
University of Illinois 
Union League Club
 

If you are interested in hosting a center for your group, please contact

Michael Hoadley, IFI Board Member, for more details and to schedule a time. 

773-294-5868  email - mhoadley@spinnakerventures.biz
 

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Good Search Engine


We live in an information, search driven culture.
Please use Good Search in your internet search activity and designate IFI as your Charity of Choice.


 GoodSearch: You Search...We Give!

GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. It's a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it’s powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers — the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!

When you are asked to enter your charity here - type in - Illinois Fatherhood Initiative

Thanks for your support

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Mark Your Calendar
 

Essay Deadline - March 7, 2008

 

State of Fatherhood Picnic May 24, 2008

Fatherhood Dinner Celebration Set for June 5, 2008

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New Officers Elected - January 2008

  • President - Ken Slepicka

  • Vice President - John Sciaccotta

  • Treasurer - James Kelly 

  • Secretary - Wayne Sneed

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Consider IFI as Part of Your Charitable Giving

 

The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative is supported by
Corporations, Foundations, and Contributions from Individuals. 
If you would like to support IFI's Mission,
please send a check payable to “IFI” to:
Illinois Fatherhood Initiative
20 N. Wacker Drive, #1441, Chicago, IL 60606. 

 
You can also make a donation of appreciated stock to IFI by calling
Kate De Kay at (800)621-5231 x3402. 

 

 

Privacy information: this e-newsletter is being sent to you from the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative. We received your e-mail address voluntarily from you during an IFI sponsored activity or event in the past. If you would like to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please hit reply and change the subject line to “Unsubscribe.”  We will immediately remove you from the distribution list. Please remember that IFI does not and will not share any information from any donor or volunteer with any other agency. 

 

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