MEDIA INFORMATION
Contact: Scot Marcotte,
President
Illinois Fatherhood Initiative
Mobile: (773) 425-7987
Email: scotmarcotte@yahoo.com
FOR RELEASE ON JUNE 16, 2024
The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative announces its 27th annual
Father of the Year Essay Finalists for Father’s Day
CHICAGO (June 16, 2024) – Each year for the past 27 years, the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative has sponsored an essay contest on the topic, “what my father means to me.” Nearly a half million essays have been submitted by Illinois school kids, read by thousands of volunteers. These essays capture the poignant stories of fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and father-figures who are positively impacting our next generation – one life at a time.
In the face of major change going on around us, 2300 Illinois school children wrote compassionate stories about the men who influence them. More than 300 volunteers virtually stepped up to narrow those heartfelt submissions to 13 father-of-the-year finalists.
This year’s thirteen finalists and their role models include:
| Grade | Student | School | Dad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Sofia Guerra | Rachel Carson | Samuel Guerra |
| 1st Grade | Herianyeli Varela Villamisar | Richard Edwards School | Heriberto Varela |
| 2nd Grade | Angelina Perez | Richard Edwards School | Francisco Javier Perez |
| 3rd Grade | Angel Salgado | Rachel Carson | Enrique Salgado |
| 4th Grade | Stella Doran | St. Mary’s School | Alan Doran |
| 5th Grade | Kamilah Blades | Richard Edwards School | Kenneth A Blades |
| 6th Grade | Jennifer Garcia | Rachel Carson | Alfredo Garcia |
| 7th Grade | Henry Yedinak | St. Mary’s School | Randy Yedinak |
| 8th Grade | Bevin Brummel | St. Mary’s School | Matt Brummel |
| 9th Grade | Ameera Andon | De La Salle Institute | Carlos Andon |
| 10th Grade | Tonni Lumu | Mundelein High School | Tonny Lumu |
| 11th Grade | Sissi Loza | De La Salle Institute | Guadalupe Francisco Loza |
| 12th Grade | Jennifer Lopez | De La Salle Institute | Urbano Lopez |
As finalist Tonni Lumu writes, “I know that my father has come a long way from his family, and sacrificed everything for his family, which made me who I am today.”
Like Mr. Lumu, dads need to play an inspirational role in their children’s lives.
IFI president Scot Marcotte reinforces the importance of that role, “We dads have an obligation to make an impact in our children’s lives; to feed off the many teachable moments going on around us to give needed guidance and hope.”
The country’s first statewide nonprofit fatherhood organization, the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative has a mission of connecting children and fathers by actively engaging fathers in the education of their children. The initiative was established in 1997 to address the increasing problem of father absence in society.
The Census Bureau indicates that more than 25% of children under 18 are growing up in homes without fathers. Furthermore, children from fatherless homes are four times more likely to grow up in poverty and twice as likely to drop out of high school. These children are also more likely to commit suicide, run away, have behavioral disorders, abuse drugs and alcohol, commit crimes and end up in prison, according to the IFI.
For more information on the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, please contact Scot Marcotte at 773-425-7987.
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About the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative
The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative (IFI) is the country’s first state-wide non-profit fatherhood organization. Founded in 1997, the IFI provides resources and programming to help dads take an active role in the education of their children and be actively present in their kids’ lives.
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