FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALL PRO DAD AND TONY DUNGY LAUNCH STATEWIDE FATHERHOOD PROGRAMMING IN TEXAS ON APRIL 28
Nonprofit Kicks Off Expansion Of All Pro Dad Chapter Programs With Special Event At Fort Worth ISD South Hills Elementary School, A Result Of Overwhelming Legislative Support

FORT WORTH, Texas—April 25, 2022— National nonprofit Family First and its fatherhood program All Pro Dad are hosting a special event at Fort Worth ISD South Hills Elementary School on Thursday, April 28 from 10-11:45 a.m. to kick off new fatherhood programming as a result of overwhelming legislative support. Led by the organization’s founders Tony Dungy and Mark Merrill, All Pro Dad is inviting state and community leaders, partners, and Fort Worth and Dallas-area dads and kids to come together and celebrate All Pro Dad’s growing presence in Texas.

Nearly 19.7 million children in America grow up without their biological father, which is directly correlated to poor academic and social outcomes. All Pro Dad provides programs and initiatives that address the negative effects of fatherlessness, and legislative support allows for exponential growth.

“Now more than ever, government and nonprofit programs must work to effectively reach parents in our local communities in order to break the cycle of fatherlessness and activate change,” said Tony Dungy, co-founder of All Pro Dad. “We are so excited to expand our footprint in Texas by offering more opportunities for fathers to invest in their children through the All Pro Dad chapter program and beyond.”

What began as a conversation between Merrill and Dungy in 1997 has grown into one of the world’s largest parenting organizations, with nearly 1,000 All Pro Dad chapters established globally. Through interactive events, daily encouragement and monthly chapter meetings, All Pro Dad offers fathers the opportunity to connect with kids by strengthening relationships, inspiring leadership and providing guidance and practical parenting tips.

Through this statewide effort, All Pro Dad hopes to increase family engagement and positively impact the academic success of students in Texas, while creating unique opportunities for fatherhood involvement at local schools. Residents of Texas can further support the nonprofit by purchasing one of the new Family First specialty license plates. Sales from the Texas plate directly support Family First’s two main programs: All Pro Dad and iMOM, and are available for purchase at MyPlates.com.

“We are committed to offering Texans as many resources as possible so they can engage with their children in a meaningful way and curb the negative effects that come from the lack of an active father or father figure,” said Representative Giovanni Capriglione. “Partnering with All Pro Dad will allow us to play a role in fostering the emotional, social and educational development of our students so they’re able to flourish in the future.”

In addition to the expansion of the All Pro Dad chapter program in Dallas and Fort Worth, the nonprofit will host the All Pro Dad Experience at Texas Christian University (TCU) on Saturday, May 21 at Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., fathers will have the chance to connect with their kids through interactive games and relationship building exercises, while also taking home practical fatherhood tips from Horned Frogs Head Football Coach Sonny Dykes and others. To register for the All Pro Dad Experience at TCU on May 21, visit allprodad.com/events.

To learn more about All Pro Dad and its chapter program, visit allprodad.com.

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ABOUT ALL PRO DAD
All Pro Dad is the fatherhood program of Family First, a national nonprofit organization based in Tampa that reaches thousands of parents each day through its two primary programs: All Pro Dad and iMOM.

All Pro Dad was founded by Mark Merrill and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy. Serving families and fathers for more than 30 years, All Pro Dad provides resources, training and events to help fathers as they raise their children for a healthy and hopeful future.

ABOUT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services promotes safe and healthy families, and protects children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.