Supporting the Next Generation of Fathers, Husbands, and Community Leaders

You always expect your parents to be there in your life. Unfortunately, for some young men in Isabella County that is not their reality. Under the guidance of Brian Pruitt, program operator for Power of Dad, fatherless young men from around Isabella County were able to come together and learn valuable life skills from father figures within the community. After nine successful years in Saginaw, Pruitt decided to bring this mentoring program to Isabella County.

This program received funding from the Kellogg Youth Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, to provide young men with important life skills and memories through seminars, group outings, and parenting time. Power of Dad hopes to encourage young men to become good fathers, husbands, and citizens. The young men that participated used three workbooks to learn different life lessons. Along with the workbooks, the young men attended a Central Michigan University football game, went fishing, ate meals together, and attended monthly seminars. At the end of the five-month program, there was a graduation ceremony to honor the young men.

Although there are similar programs to the Power of Dad, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, one difference stands out from the rest. Once the young men have graduated from the Power of Dad program, they are able to come back and mentor the younger generation of participants. This allows the graduated men to give back by passing their knowledge and experience on to the boys that now fill their shoes.

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