Father's Day got its start at YMCA

Father’s Day gets its start at the Spokane, Washington YMCA in the 1900s

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- On Sunday, June 19, fathers across America will again be enjoying gifts, cards and other tributes from their loved ones. As we remember our own fathers, let’s stop and remember the young woman whose love and gratitude for her father began the tradition of remembering dads everywhere.

The young woman was Sonora Louise Smart. More than 90 years ago, she was attending a YMCA ceremony celebrating Mother’s Day. Her thoughts turned to her father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart. He had raised Sonora and her five brothers after their mother’s death in childbirth. Smart thought that fathers should be honored ? with religious services, special meals, small gifts and roses. She shared her idea with local religious leaders meeting at the Spokane YMCA and they agreed, passing a resolution to observe a Father’s Day. The Spokane YMCA held the first Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910 the month of William Smart’s birthday. More than 60 years later, in 1971, President Nixon and Congress issued proclamations and endorsements of Father’s day as a national tradition. Father’s Day is not celebrated on the same day everywhere in the world, but the concept of honoring Dads with a special day appears to be universal. A monument to Sonora Smart Dodd, to her father and to all fathers stands at the Spokane YMCA.

“In 2011, fathers fill so many different roles,” said Roxanne Davis, YMCA Community Liaison. “They may be equal part caregivers, role models, teachers, coaches and confidants.” More than 2 million men are primary caregivers to their children today. As many as 20 percent are stay-at-home dads. The number of fathers who are primary caregivers has quadrupled since 1970, when the U.S. Census Bureau found less than one-half million fathers raising their children alone.

“Fathers are earning this day of recognition more than ever. At the YMCA, we’ve seen fathers take a much more active role in raising their children – joining family activity nights, volunteering with their kids, arranging child care and participating in one-on-one programs,” Davis said. “Fathers deserve a pat on the back and, of course, all the support community organizations like YMCAs can give to them to help make their jobs easier and more enjoyable.”

YMCAs serve as a meeting place for fathers and their children. The YMCA has specific programs designed to foster and build relationships between a father and child. These programs include Parent/Child Swim Lessons, Youth Sports, Family Fitness and YMCA Parent/Child Adventure Guide Program.

The YMCA Parent/Child program is the oldest and largest offering in the Y family program series. More than 80 years ago, this legacy program was developed in a deliberate way to support the father’s vital family role as a teacher, counselor and friend to his child. The core of the 80 year old program parent child program remains the same even though the name has changed to YMCA Adventure Guides. This program is the embodiment of the YMCA mission: to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. It also builds assets and character in our young people and reinforces the Y pledge of strengthening communities.

According to a report form the National Center for Fathering, children whose fathers are involved in their lives are more confident and less anxious in unfamiliar settings, are better able to deal with frustration, better develop a sense of independence, are more likely to become compassionate adults, have higher self-esteem, have higher grade-point averages, are more likely to be sociable. Parent/Child programs that involve active fathers are clearly good for young people.

“When we support parents, we begin to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities,” Davis said. “The South Montgomery County YMCAs want to remind everyone to honor the fathers or father figures in their lives this Father’s Day.”