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

400th Mentor Father Joins SFN

21CD Launches Bi-Weekly SFN Dads Zoom Calls

June 2, 2020

21CD Launches Bi-Weekly SFN Dads Zoom Calls

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

100th SFN Dad To Dad Podcast featuring Doron Almog from Israel

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

SFN Virtual Conference, 180+ registrants from 30 states and 6 countries

300th Mentor Fathers Joins SFN

November 30, 2019

300th Mentor Fathers Joins SFN

200th mentor father joins the Special Fathers Network

June 30, 2019

200th mentor father joins the Special Fathers Network

200th Dad Joins Special Fathers Network – The Lehmbeck Family

21CD Conducts 1st SFN Dads Conference in Northbrook, IL

May 18, 2019

21CD Conducts 1st SFN Dads Conference in Northbrook, IL

SFN Dads Conference

21CD Airs 50th SFN Dad To Dad Podcast

March 14, 2019

21CD Airs 50th SFN Dad To Dad Podcast

50th SFN Dad To Dad Podcast – The Bovell Family

21CD Creates Special Fathers Network Closed FaceBook Group

November 21, 2018

21CD Creates Special Fathers Network Closed FaceBook Group

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

100th Mentor Father joins SFN

Special Fathers Network has 100th Mentor Father join the SFN.

21CD Establishes Ryan M. Hanson Memorial Internship

April 15, 2018

21CD Establishes Ryan M. Hanson Memorial Internship

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

12th C2EFA held

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

1st SFN Dad To Dad Podcast

21CD creates the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Randy Lewis is the first interviewee.

21CD Launches Special Fathers Network

October 23, 2017

21CD Launches Special Fathers Network

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

Dads Honor Ride 2017: 9 days, 958 miles bicycle ride

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

Inaugural Cycle To End Father Absence (C2EFA)

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

Dads Honor Ride 2016: 21 days, 1,400 mile bicycle ride

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

“21st Century Dads: A Father’s Journey To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence” published

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

TEDx presentation: “Why We Need To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence”

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

Dads Honor Ride 2015: 21 days, 2,325 mile bicycle ride

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

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.