Help For Daddy Blog

Your Generosity Is Astounding!

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:34:39 -0800

We put out an email request a few days ago to our mailing list about the plight of one of the fathers we are helping who is remote, and about 600 miles away from us here in Portland, Oregon.

Clearly, from that distance, it is a little hard to get the ‘hands-on’ assistance that we specialize in, so I thought I would send out an email to see what we could round up specifically for his situation.

This father needs clothes and shoes for himself and his son after a series of unfortunate events have left them both with nothing.

Well, expecting a few items to trickle in, I was amazed when email after email starting coming in saying that people had ‘stuff’ for me. There were people who went to the store specifically to buy something from him and his 6 year old son. We had donations from Lake Oswego, Scappoose, Camas, Washington, North Portland, Tigard, St. Helens, St Johns, SE Portland, Aloha, Oregon City, Clackamas, Gladstone, and just about everywhere in between. We had some donated items from California which are being sent directly. We even had three donations from ENGLAND!

As amazed as I was, I have to say I am not surprised. Our donors have always been incredibly supportive of our cause, and this is the first ‘specific’ donation drive we have done that centers on a father and his son.

I thought the biggest problem I would have would be finding enough items to really make a difference in their life.

The biggest problem I have now, is finding enough boxes to ship it down there.

You are incredible supporters.

Thank you.

Simon Date
Founder & Executive Director

You Know Something We Don’t?

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:20:22 -0800

Let’s face it, being the smartest kid in school is something we were never really accused. Well, in times like these that can be a blessing, because we are on the hunt for other “experts”.

‘Experts at what?’ we hear you say. Well, just about anything, really. Here’s the scoop...

Starting in March, HelpForDaddy is going to be conducting a series of workshops each month through the end of 2010. The goal of these workshops is to enable fathers to learn a skill that they might not have, or have been unable to learn as it involves children they do not see enough. Some fathers, especially those that have their kids only a few times a month, don’t get to “practice” areas of being a dad as much as they would like.

These workshops will focus on a wide range of topics from doing your legal paperwork, to braiding your 3 year old daughter’s hair...and let’s face it, there are not too many dads out there (yes, even you married ones!) that can do a french braid, or put in pig tails without your daughter’s eyes watering from the experience!

So why do we need your help?

Well, we are looking for topics AND experts. If you can add to our list on the right hand side of the page we want to hear from you. Better still, if you are someone who IS and expert at some of these things, we would love to have you donate some time and come and teach the workshop with us. Believe me, you do not want me teaching the nutrition class! You can see from the list that there are some topics that are light-hearted, but others are very serious issues. These workshops are not about telling you what to do, but rather about advice on how to handle them in a manner that yours kids understand, and that will relate to you as a single parent who often has his children for limited amounts of time.

The other HUGE opportunity we have is for the workshops to be televised. We are currently looking into the possibility of following up our recent appearance on the Dads Television Network with our own show. Yes, that’s right...YOU could be on television with us. Of course, that part is optional!

So, take a look at the list on the right. If you think you can help, or feel like we are missing something, PLEASE email us and let us know your thoughts.

Thanks!

HelpForDaddy Expands

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:23:49 -0800

HelpForDaddy is pleased to announce the opening of two new offices in addition to the main office in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Our locations are setup to help fathers not only with workshops, and advice, but also with tangible goods such as clothes, toys, and furniture, as well as handling the increasing number of donations that we are receiving from generous donors like you.

With new offices now open in Scappoose, Oregon, and Belgrade, Montana we can more effectively help fathers in these locations and serve families better. These new locations serve Columbia County in Oregon, and Gallatin County in Montana. This brings our total to three offices when the Lake Oswego one is considered.

We are also near to announcing an office location in Gladstone, Oregon which will serve Clackamas County.

Please refer to our contact page for mailing addresses.

HFD on the Dad’s Television Network

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:25:04 -0800

We were recently asked to be guests on the Dad’s Television Network here in Portland, Oregon.
This live show went out at 7pm locally, and we are very grateful to the group for asking us to be a part of it.
There were a few minor topic choices that threw us a little, including a sidebar about one of the Superbowl ads, but on the whole we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and hope to be invited back again soon.
Our thanks to the host, Robert Pyland, and Victor Smith from DAD (Dads Against Discrimination).

Win a HFD Shirt Just for Spreading the Word

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:59:05 -0800

As you saw a few days ago, we have now partnered up with CafeGive, the online portal that supports non-profits by allowing you to shop online and giving money back!

To push our earning potential through the roof during our first week with them, we are giving away HelpForDaddy t-shirts to the first TEN people that shop online and tell us what they bought!

Simply follow the link to the right, shop for ANYTHING online, and then tell us what you bought on our Facebook page!

Remember to select HelpForDaddy when you shop to enable us to get the benefits that CafeGive offer! FYI: to make it easy, just click on the link to the right and it will automatically do it!

It’s that simple.

We Team Up With CafeGive

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:26:01 -0800

This morning, HelpForDaddy officially teamed up with CafeGive creating a way for our non-profit to flourish by, well, doing nothing really!

Well, okay, it’s not quite that simple, so a little explanation is needed.

CafeGive is a Portland based internet company that partners with the companies you already shop with online to raise awareness and funding for non-profits. They drive business to these retailers and as a result are paid a commission for doing so. That commission is then split with the non-profit that is referring them. The consumer (you!) are not charged anything for it, do not pay more for your item, and actually purchase the items through the retailer site. The transaction is private, secure and takes place entirely in the background!

These are not just small retailers either! Maybe you have heard of some of the companies below?

HFDs New Board

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:04:32 -0800

There are big changes as we expand at HelpForDaddy!

At the first board meeting of the year, held at Henry’s 12th Street Tavern last night, HelpForDaddy had a major reorganization necessitated by the growth we are experiencing and the increased needs we have. The board meeting commenced at 7:47pm.

The first order of business was to elect two additional board members, Lisa Aasheim, and Scott Bates. This bought our total to five including existing members Mike Veary, Stephanie Date, and Simon Date. The motion was proposed by Simon Date and seconded by Stephanie, with Mike being an absentee vote. You can read all about Lisa and Scott by clicking on the ‘Our Team’ link at the top of the page.

Immediately following their successful election to the board, Simon Date resigned his position as President of HelpForDaddy, but remained ont he board. Lisa was then voted in as the new President (3 yes votes to 0 against). Stephanie was voted in as Treasurer (3 - 0) and Scott as board Secretary (3 - 0).

Simon then submitted his board resignation to Lisa, the new Board President and it was accepted.

Immediately following his resignation there was a motion put the Board to nominate Simon as the Executive Director by the Board President, which was seconded by Scott, and accepted into record by a vote of (3 - 0).

Other points of business included an Executive Director report, financial planning and a grant status update by Melenie Duval, and a report given by Andy Green regarding the development of our mentoring programs and workshops.

The meeting was adjourned by Lisa Aasheim at 10:02pm. The next meeting is scheduled for March 15th.

The ‘Buck Book Sale’ Was a Huge Success

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:53:26 -0800

Today, HelpForDaddy had it’s first ‘Buck Book Sale’ and it was extremely well received.

With Kraxberger Middle School hosting, at the same time a basketball tournament was going on, we had a huge turnout.

Conservative estimates put the attendance at 200 people, but I wouldn’t be surprised if 300 showed.

Of course, not everyone bought a book, but there was tons of browsing and we had a raffle/sweepstakes going on to win a 32” TV and a new DVD player which was a hit! $1 tickets got you in!

The guys from MoonPie Pizza in Gladstone showed up, too, and were selling pizza by the slice which was very well received as the weather turned wet and cold outside, so there was something for everyone!

With so many books available, and no real plan for storing them afterwards, the “all books are free” signs went up during the last hour and the enthusiasm grew from passers by, clearing us out of a good many books!

Thanks to everyone who showed up and supported us, and to Kraxberger for supplying the venue, but most of all to MacKenzie Books in Beaverton for their incredibly generous donation of the books!

Graco Strollers Recalled

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:09:17 -0800

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- About 1.5 million Graco strollers have been recalled because they could pose a risk of fingertip amputations and lacerations to children, federal safety officials announced Wednesday.
The recall includes certain models of strollers and travel systems made by Graco Children's Products, including the Graco Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and travel systems, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
The hinges on the product's canopy pose a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is opening or closing the canopy, the CPSC said.
Graco has received seven reports of children injured when they placed their fingers in the stroller's canopy hinge mechanism, including five fingertip amputations and two lacerations, according to the commission.
The CPSC said consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Graco to receive a free protective cover repair kit.
The recalled strollers were sold at Babies "R" Us, Toys "R" Us, Kmart, Sears, Target, Walmart and other retailers nationwide from October 2004 and December 2009.
The strollers had a suggested retail price of between between $80 and $90. The travel systems, which include a detachable car seat, sold for between $150 and $200.
The original story can be found here.

First Wednesday Wine & Chocolate

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:40:21 -0800

Did you miss the first one?

January’s ‘First Wednesday Wine and Chocolate Event’ was a tremendous success, and we’re doing it again!

Same bat time. Same bat channel. Same bat location.

Also, look for future “First Wednesday Wine and Chocolate Events” to be held in multiple locations. We want to get them all over the city, but this time we’re sticking to what works.

March could be our break out month...