The Story Behind Father's Day

Holiday founded at a YMCA to honor father of six motherless children

On June 17, 2007 when millions of fathers enjoy gifts and cards nationwide, most of them will be unaware that, in addition to their children, they also owe special thanks to Sonora Louise Smart the founder of Father's Day.

Eighty-nine years ago at a YMCA in Spokane, Wash., this dedicated daughter honored her father by calling for an annual Father's Day. The inspiration for Father's Day struck Sonora in 1909, while listening to a sermon celebrating Mother's Day. She thought of her father, a Civil War veteran, who had raised her and five brothers after their mother died in childbirth. Sonora shared her idea with local Protestant ministers at the Spokane YMCA who passed a resolution to observe a Father's Day.

The Spokane YMCA sponsored the first celebration on June 19, 1910. June was her father's birth month. Ms. Smart suggested honoring fathers through religious services, special meals, small gifts and wearing roses. The Father's Day idea spread rapidly, and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended a national observance.

"Being a father in 2005 comes with a much different job description than in Sonora's day," said Barbara Taylor, Associate Director for Child Care and Family Programs for the YMCA of the USA. "Fathers are earning this day of recognition more than ever before. At the YMCA we've seen fathers take a much more active role in raising their children joining family activity nights, volunteering with their kids, arranging child care and participating in one-on-one programs. Fathers deserve a pat on the back and, of course, all the support community organizations like YMCAs can give them to make their job easier and more enjoyable."

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd died at the age of 96 but her legacy lives on. A monument to Sonora's holiday stands at the Spokane YMCA where today thousands of fathers and their children enjoy a wide range of family programs.

.
.

News Items About Fathers and Fathers Day:

Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar
Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar by Gary Larson (Sales Rank: 1500, as of 9/30/2006 1:49:52 AM)
Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar
Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar by Gary Larson (Sales Rank: 2730, as of 9/11/2006 1:41:24 AM)
School Calendar: nosee nofrom hs nohed
CALENDAR DATES Oct. 2: Teacher Planning Day Oct. 20: Teacher Planning Day Nov. 7: Teacher Planning Day Nov. 10: Veteran's Day Holiday
Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar
Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar by Gary Larson (Sales Rank: 1123, as of 10/8/2006 2:03:42 AM)
Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar
Far Side 2007 Off The Wall Calendar: 2007 Page a Day Calendar by Gary Larson (Sales Rank: 884, as of 10/4/2006 1:47:22 AM)

Your Best Fathers Day Resources:

1. The Father's Day Shop - The Mommy Mall
... for Father's Day. Wal-Mart Find perfect Father's Day Gifts at Wal-Mart today! Click here for our ... ... & Design, All Rights Reserved About Us | Calendar | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map Web ...
http://www.genglo.com/father.html

2. Father's Day Event at Pixieland Was a Blast! :: Bay Area Bears :: Community ...
Member Login Homepage:: Gallery:: WebLinks:: FAQ Main Menu Home FAQ News Search Gallery Calendar Web Links Father's Day Event at Pixieland Was a Blast! Posted Jun 28, 2004 - 03:07 PM Print ...
http://www.bayareabears.o ...hread&order=0&thold=0

3.
... 34. Digital Clock Calculator Tool Set in Folding Tote (27 Pieces) Golf Club and Ball Desk Box This digital clock will tell time in 16 different time zones, and also features a calendar, an alarm clock ...
http://www.stevesgifts.com/Fathers_Day.htm

4. "Father's Day Gifts and Gift Baskets in South Florida"
... Valentine's Day Administrative Professional Day Mother's Day Father's Day Thanksgiving Day Hanukkah Christmas Testimonials Event Calendar Home Imprint Ribbon Service Company Information Contact ...
http://www.joycesbaskets.com/Father's Day.htm

5. Father's Day -- OnlineOrganizing.com
... Day The Clickable House The Clickable Office You Are Here: Home - Calendar - Annual Calendar of Events - Father's Day Father's Day The Third Sunday In June Many people assume that "moms" bear all of ...
http://www.onlineorganizi ...oliday.asp?holiday=23

6. Weddinig Anniversary Gift Ideas, Father's Day Gifts, The 7 Commandments of G...
Gift News News From ABC Gifts and Baskets June 2003 in this issue Gift Giving 101 The Seven Commandments of Great Marketing Holiday Calendar Quality Copywriting Services Father's Day June 15th, 2003 ...
http://baskets.gifts-911. ...-anniversary-0603.htm

7. Top100 holidays Father s Day see
... Free Father's Day Wallpaper - Provides calendar template and various wallpapers. GCards Father's Day - Includes online greetings, history, poems, cliparts, and discussion boards. Happy Father's Day ...
http://www.top100-holiday ...oto.com/holidays6.php

8. Dapto Anglican Church » Blog Archive » Father’s Day Celebr...
... BCA Boxes Now Due In Celebration Service ª Fathers Day Celebration Sunday, 4th September at 10:00 ... ... 20th, 2005 at 2:12 pm and is filed under Calendar, Community and Outreach, Specials. You can ...
http://www.daptoanglican. ...hers-day-celebration/

9. Dads Postcards, Ecards and Greeting Cards @ 1001 Postcards
... RANDOM pick a department: Everyday Cards Anytime Comedy & Parody Daily Stuff Days of the Week Fun Stuff Silliness Occasions/Messages Celebrations Calendar Holidays Love & Romance Sentiments Words of ...
http://www2.postcards.org/go/c/0170/

10. Preschool Education Theme Days : Father's Day In
... Books| Book Reviews | Bulletin Boards | Calendar | Circle Time | Computer Related Reviews ... ... Recipes | Theme Days Dr. Seuss's Birthday Father's Day In Hat Day Pajama Day Silly Sock Day Teddy ...
http://www.preschooleducation.com/fatherin.shtml

11. Free Online Greetings: Holiday > Father's Day
... Collections | Stupid Cupid CALENDAR November Diwali (1 ... Celebrate Winter | World AIDS Day (1) | Hanukkah (7) | Christmas ... card manager Prev Holiday > Father's Day > Page: 1 2 3 Next I ...
http://www.freeonlinegree ...athers_day/index.html

12. Fathers Day Activities - crafts for kids, word searches and Father's Day ide...
... s Day Memorial Day Flag Day Father's Day 4th of July Labor Day ... Day Fire Safety Week Veteran's Day Thanksgiving Hanukkah Christmas ... Childhood Education Home Calendar Weblinks Search About Us ...
http://www.apples4theteac ...holidays/fathers-day/

13. Father'S Day Calendar
Father'S Day Calendar crafts father's day Fathers Day Gift Ideas 2003 free fathers day cards fathers days cards fathers days cards fathers day gift uk fathers day gift uk fathers day quotes fathers ...
http://www.giftexperience ...r's-day-calendar.html

14. Tidy's Flowers - Tidy's Flowers - Celebrating Father's Day (June 19, 2005): ...
... Father's Day is probably the most difficult holiday in the calendar. Not because it's controversial ... ... original Father of Father's day for a clue. In the traditional Christian calendar, fathers were ...
http://www.tidysflowers.c ...useaction=fathers_day

15. Purchase online Food Baskets Fruit Baskets Gourmet Baskets Gift Baskets
Purchase online Gift baskets - Fruit baskets by mail order . If you want it fast, Click Here . Save ...
http://www.food-fruit-gourmet-gift-baskets.com/

16. Father Day Gifts at Montanawants.com
... Pg 1) Christmas (Pg 2) Father's Day Graduation Grandparent ... Special Occassions Valentines Day Weddings Gifts Ideas Under $25 ... Ads Free Personal Ads Events Calendar Free Auction Free E Post ...
http://www.montanawants.com/fathersday.htm

17. Our Adopted Blessing - Baby, Born, Day, Father, First, Home, Job, Pregnancy,...
... her home from the hospital at 1 day old. We are eternally grateful ... eternally grateful to Heavenly Father for making sure that he sent ... Adoptees Spouses of Adoptees Calendar of Events Games e-Magazine e ...
http://stories.adoption.c ...adopted-blessing.html

18. Raffaelloties
... father day greeting, free father day ecard, father day craft for child, christian father day gift, calendar of father day, basket day father gift gourmet, basket day father gift wine, father day ...
http://www.national-shopping.com/raffaelloties/

19.
http://yccenagpur.batchma ...s_day/fathers_day.asp

20. Craft day father toddler Directory
... Day ... day father page 2005 day father day day father craft day father school sunday fatherday calendar father day gift idea uk craft day father toddler craft day ... Father's Day ... Father's Day at ...
http://www.toddlersnews.it/web_category_6.html

21.
Calendar Updates Put some Fun on your Calendar Holiday and Sport Team Schedules for your Microsoft Outlook Calendar Father's Day Display your flag today ref. U.S. Flag Code Father's Day is always the ...
http://www.calendar-updat ...lidays/US/fathers.htm

22. Happy Father's Day greeting cards, Happy Father's Day ecards and greetings
... & Screensavers Calendar New to Netfuncards? Create Account! Member Tools: My Account Favorites Sent Cards Addres Book Already Member ? Home ª Holidays ª Happy Father's Day Pages: 1 2 Greeting ...
http://www.netfuncards.co ...days.happyfathersday/

23. Free Father's Day Greeting Cards - NBCi
... Now! Business Finder People Finder Submit Your Site Maps & Directions Classifieds Auctions Job Search Personals Horoscopes Address Book Calendar To-Do List Father's Day: Page 1 of 3 [ Card Index ...
http://www.infospace.com/ ...greets/fathersday.htm

24. SaraBaskets - Your Gift Baskets Connection - Gifts for Him, Fishing, Golfing...
... General Info FREE Gift Reminder Home 2005 Calendar Gourmet Gourmet Baskets Gourmet Cookies ... ... Seasonal Valentine's Day Mother's Day Patriotic/Summer Father's Day Thanksgiving/Fall Christmas ...
http://www.sarabaskets.com/forhim.html

25. Father Day Trivia - Selected Resources For Father Day Trivia
... Starware also provides related listings for father day trivia Buy Below Wholesale. As low as a ... ... the Magic The Trivial Simpsons 2006 365-Day Box Calendar The Meaning of Tingo: And Other ...
http://www.triviatidbit.net/father-day-trivia.php

26. FathersDayGiftIdea.com ►► Father's Day Gift Idea ● Domain ...
... mens gift ideas father gift fathers day gift ida father's day sale invitations create father's day calendar fathers day humor fathers day gift ide fathers day sale fathersday poems when is father's ...
http://www.fathersdaygiftidea.com/

27. Father's Day Postcards
... Specials ecard mania home add card of the day mailing list contact us support this site privacy policy terms of use help link to us fun stuff calendar wallpaper free games free music free ...
http://www.ecardmania.com/fathers/

28. Father's Day has gone to the dogs - American Greetings
... and show dogs often. During a series of calendar photo shoots featuring top dog breeds, it ... ... and child models we typically feature." The Father's Day Creative team took Elkins' idea a step ...
http://pressroom.american ...day05/dogsdads05.html

29. fathers day 2004 gifts for men us
... space pens, the NASA calendar Savile Row London's famous ... in the UK (20th June) Fathers Day in Australia (Sunday September ... Wine & Beer | Events: Father's Day | Mother's Day ...
http://www.maxinfous.com/shop/fathersday.htm

30. i-Gift-Baskets.com - father day gift online christmas gift shop food gift ba...
... fruit recipe 40th birthday gag gift basket fruit salad jewish holiday calendar 2003 gift shopping online mall An father day gift online christmas gift shop food gift basket flowers delivery germany ...
http://basket.i-gift-bask ...y-gift-online-chr.htm

31. Event Details
... Active Newsletters| Active Evites| Your Active Calendar Pulse Check| ActiveRadio| Active Newsletters ... ... Videos/Books/DVDs| Gear Guide CooperSmiths Father's Day 5k Sunday, June 19, 2005 8:00 AM Old Town ...
http://www.active.com/eve ....cfm?event_id=1223446

32.
... whatever theme you choose... have a great Father's Day celebration! [ Home] Merchants maintain the ... ... Bear in the Blue House Bingo Party Birthday Calendar Birthday Express Parties Birthday Party Cakes ...
http://www.partymerchant.com/fathers_day.htm

33. BTCC - SEAT Sport UK
... 2004 Season 2005 Season Championship Info 2004 Season 2005 Season 2005 Race Calendar SEAT DRIVERS READY TO MAKE FATHERíS DAY AT OULTON SEAT Sport UK drivers Jason Plato, James Pickford and Luke Hines ...
http://www.seatsportuk.co ...cnews.asp?ID=10110511

34. Happy Father's Day, Dad - Coffee|Code
... June 19. 2005 Happy Father's Day, Dad Dad -- I know we've had ... become a husband to Lynn and a father (of sorts) to our cat Spook ... for Linux, UNIX, and Windows. Calendar November '05 Mon Tue Wed Thu ...
http://www.coffeecode.net ...Fathers-Day,-Dad.html

35. Golf gift selection for father's day, christmas and birthdays
... 95 (Save 20%) 365 Golf Holes Page-A-Day Calendar 2003 Golf Digest £8.07 (Save 10%) USGA Golf Calendar 2003... Paperback £7.99 Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect 2003 Block Calendar Bob Rotella £7.41 (Save ...
http://www.tee-off.co.uk/docs/interest/gifts.htm