About the 21st Century Dads Foundation
21CDF is a 501c3 created to address the issue of father absence, one of the root causes of what ails society.
THE ISSUE: Father Absence
There are approximately 24 million kids growing up across America without their dads. Children from father-absent homes are more likely to; drop out of school, abuse drugs and alcohol, get involved with crime and become incarcerated, become teen parents, have psychological problems and commit suicide.
There are a number of factors contributing to father absence, including, but not limited to:
- Out-of-Wedlock Births, which have increased from 11% in 1970 to 41% today
- Divorce, which strikes and estimated 1:2 marriages,
- Lack of Paternity Establishment, which is greater than 50% in some communities,
- Incarceration, which is more acute in certain populations,
- Abandonment, which can be both physical and emotional
- Lack of Employment, which results in lack of supporting basic needs
- Death, which occurs prematurely too often among low income families.
To learn more about father absence, click here.
21CD Timeline
400th Mentor Father Joins SFN
July 1, 2020
21CD Launches Bi-Weekly SFN Dads Zoom Calls
June 2, 2020
Based on surveys received from fathers raising children with special needs, we identified the topics of most interest and started hosting SFN bi-weekly Zoom Calls on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
100th SFN Dad To Dad Podcast featuring Doron Almog from Israel
May 29, 2020
In our 100th episode of the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, we were both honored and pleased to welcome a truly exceptional father, Doron Almog, retired Major General, Israel Defense Forces.
SFN Virtual Conference, 180+ registrants from 30 states and 6 countries
May 16, 2020
300th Mentor Fathers Joins SFN
November 30, 2019
200th mentor father joins the Special Fathers Network
June 30, 2019
200th Dad Joins Special Fathers Network – The Lehmbeck Family
21CD Conducts 1st SFN Dads Conference in Northbrook, IL
May 18, 2019
SFN Dads Conference
21CD Airs 50th SFN Dad To Dad Podcast
March 14, 2019
50th SFN Dad To Dad Podcast – The Bovell Family
21CD Creates Special Fathers Network Closed FaceBook Group
November 21, 2018
21CD launches the SFN Dad To Dad closed Facebook Group for dads raising children with special needs.
100th Mentor Father joins SFN
July 15, 2018
Special Fathers Network has 100th Mentor Father join the SFN.
21CD Establishes Ryan M. Hanson Memorial Internship
April 15, 2018
1CD Establishes Ryan M. Hanson Memorial Internship in honor of Ryan died unexpectedly in September 2017 at 18 from cardiomyopathy.
12th C2EFA held
March 4, 2018
21CD holds its 12th Cycle To End Father Absence Event (C2EFA) in conjunction with the Squires Teen Fathers Program at the Cyclebar in Tigard, OR.
1st SFN Dad To Dad Podcast
October 28, 2017
21CD creates the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Randy Lewis is the first interviewee.
21CD Launches Special Fathers Network
October 23, 2017
21CD creates the Special Fathers Network, a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising a child with special needs.
Dads Honor Ride 2017: 9 days, 958 miles bicycle ride
June 16, 2017
From June 8 through June 16, 21CD stages and executed Dads Honor Ride 2017, a nine day, 958 mile bicycle ride around Lake Michigan, starting and ending in Evanston, IL.
Inaugural Cycle To End Father Absence (C2EFA)
January 28, 2017
The inaugural Cycle To End Father Absence (C2EFA) Event takes place at the CycleBar in Burr Ridge, IL, 32 riders raised $10k.
Dads Honor Ride 2016: 21 days, 1,400 mile bicycle ride
June 18, 2016
From May 30 through June 19, 21CD staged and executed Dads Honor Ride 2016, a 21 day, 1,400 mile bicycle ride from Boston to Chicago.
“21st Century Dads: A Father’s Journey To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence” published
May 17, 2016
21CD publishes the book “21st Century Dads: A Father’s Journey To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence.”
TEDx presentation: “Why We Need To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence”
October 1, 2015
David Hirsch presents a TEDx talk: Why We Need To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence
Dads Honor Ride 2015: 21 days, 2,325 mile bicycle ride
June 21, 2015
From June 1 through June 21, to raise awareness and resources for existing fatherhood organizations, 21CD staged and executed Dads Honor Ride 2015, a 21 day, 2,325 mile bicycle ride from Santa Monica to Chicago.
21st Century Dads Foundation is created
March 18, 2015
21st Century Dads Foundation is created with the mission of: “Improving the lives of children by raising awareness and resources for greater father involvement, and inspiring dads to be present; physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.”
Mission Statement
Improving the lives of children by raising awareness and resources for greater father involvement; and inspiring dads to be present —physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.
Vision Statement
That all children will grow up with a loving, caring and nurturing father and family.