21st Century Dads: A Father’s Journey To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence
For David Hirsch, the Dads Honor Ride was a daunting 2,300+ mile, 21 day journey to honor dads and raise awareness for the importance of fathers and father figures. With an estimated 24 million kids growing up without their dad in the home, the ripple effect is a higher incidence of drug and alcohol abuse, incarceration and crime, depression, and suicide. The cycle of father absence is devastating the lives of countless youth, crushing families and crippling communities.
With passion, discipline and courage David takes us along on the Dads Honor Ride journey from Santa Monica to Chicago. He shares personal reflections about overcoming fear, his struggles to find his identity, forgive his own absent father, and break his family’s cycle of father absence. More actuary than athlete, David pushed himself past his own limits and in doing so crossed paths with sages, saints, and veterans, as well as dads of different backgrounds and discovered the road to fatherhood is filled with potholes, flat tires, wrong turns, and closed roads that all contain valuable lessons. Hoping to shed light on the dark statistics that are the children of absent fathers, David has become a formidable voice for 21st Century Dads.
You may purchase 21st Century Dads — A Father’s Journey to Break the Cycle of Father Absence here.
Read what others are saying about 21st Century Dads — A Father’s Journey to Break the Cycle of Father Absence.
21st Century Dads
Mike Singletary Former Chicago Bear/NFL Hall of Fame
Growing up without a father in the home after age 12, it has been a life-long passion of mine to help facilitate healthy, thriving families. David Hirsch shares the same passion, and has devoted the last 20 years to recognizing and applauding men of character who have chosen to lead by example and be the pillars of their homes and communities. He is a devoted husband and father with a love of adventure, and passed that love down to his five children who are now young, successful adults; precisely what Fatherhood is all about.
21st Century Dads
David D. Hiller President and CEO Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Whether it was in his role as founder of the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative or as a father himself of five great children, David understands the critical importance of the role fathers play in the lives of the young. The journeys he has taken and shares in this book, both as a community leader and on his bicycle across America, offer pertinent lessons about the rich experiences that dads can provide to their kids when they are involved. Fathers from all backgrounds will find great comfort in the simple wisdom David provides in this outstanding read. Bravo!”
21st Century Dads
Frances Hesselbein, President & CEO The Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute
David Hirsch continues to bring his indispensable message of the role Dads play in the 21st Century. It spells bright future, and we are grateful that David changes lives!
21st Century Dads
Lon Haldeman Ultramarathon Cyclist 8 time transcontinental record holder and PAC Tour co-owner
Having cycled across the country more than 85 times, including Route 66 dozens of times, I know first hand the challenges David encountered. Riding 100+ miles a day for three weeks takes a level of commitment and perseverance few possess. I admire his Dads Honor Ride accomplishment and more importantly, the commitment he brings to bridging the gap for those growing up without dads.
21st Century Dads
Jonathan Eig New York Times Best-Selling author of Luckiest Man.
A moving, deeply engaging story that will inspire you to hug your kids, tell them you love them, and dive in harder than ever to the greatest job a man can ever have—fatherhood.
21st Century Dads
Ken Canfield, PhD Founder, National Center for Fathering
David Hirsch is a mover and leader in the ‘Fathering’ movement. His personal commitment to his own family distinguishes him as an overcomer father, but in addition he is raising the importance of responsible fathering in the conciseness of America. As a colleague and friend I applaud his efforts through the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, the 21st Century Dads project and the Dads Honor Ride.
21st Century Dads
Jim Edgar Former Governor of Illinois
As a father of two and grandfather of five, I know first hand the joys of fathering and the challenges too many families face when fathers are not present. I applaud David’s effort to draw attention to the urgent need to encourage greater father involvement.
For David Hirsch, the Dads Honor Ride was a daunting 2,300+ mile, 21 day journey to honor dads and raise awareness for the importance of fathers and father figures. With an estimated 24 million kids growing up without their dad in the home, the ripple effect is a higher incidence of drug and alcohol abuse, incarceration and crime, depression, and suicide. The cycle of father absence is devastating the lives of countless youth, crushing families and crippling communities.