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.

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Your Best Fathers Day Resources:

1. Free Poems for your special day
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3. Father's Day Cakes & Cookies
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4. Father's Day - A Holiday Page with Info, Inspiration, Poems, Humor & More
... including: humorous and sentimental. The Father's Day cards that appear on this site have been ... ... an e-card is as easy as 1-2-3. E-Card Art Contest - If you have artwork that would be suitable ...
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5. Heritage Oak Private Elementary, A Carden School, Preschool through Eighth Grade
... 25/00 -- STUDENT COMPETES IN QUALIFYING ROUND FOR 2000 OLYMPICS 10/25/00 -- STUDENT WINS FATHER'S DAY CONTEST 10/25/00 -- HERITAGE OAK STUDENTS GARNER TRACK AWARDS 10/25/00 -- A SALUTE TO THE ...
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6. Easton Air Hockey Skates Review - The Best Hockey Equipment You Can Find On ...
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7. YesButNoButYes: Record Art Geneology - A Post Father's Day Thought
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8. fathers day contests 2005
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9. TM Athletics Contest - Father's Day - Varsity Letter, Letterman Jackets: - C...
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10. Strawberry Fest/Father's Day Celebration
... Strawberry Fest / Father's Day Weekend. Festivities run from 12-4 p.m. each day. $1.00 admission ... ... Prizes will be awarded. -Strawberry Eating Contest for kids age 7-12 -Antique Tractor Show -Fresh ...
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11. Public Bank Berhad
... 2.18mb PB Premium News 28 Issue Cover Page 2 : Contents, Announcement of Winners for "Bayview Celebrates Mother's & Father's Day Contest" and "Let Us Manja U at Holiday Villa Langkawi Contest" Page 3 ...
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12. THE MEANING of FATHERÄôs DAY
... s: Spotted Gallery TOP DOG CONTEST - ends 11/10/05 TOO EARLY FOR ... THE MEANING of FATHERÄôs DAY Submitted by blufftontoday on ... the daughter is proud of the father. After years of putting his ...
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13. Father Resourses-Father
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14. Caribbean Gardens: Media Info - Releases
... National Wildlife Federation) Zoo Wins International Conservation Award (September 2001) Father's Day Contest (June 2001) Focus on the New Zoo Name (May 2001) College students share lessons on ...
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15. Bulldog Beauty Contest - 2005 Father's Day, June 19, 2005; photos by geronim...
Bulldog Beauty Contest - 2005 first | previous | next | last | home (1 of 13) photos courtesy of geronimo quitoriano , www.gpolaroid.com CAT | Dog Beach | Haute Dogs | Pageant Star| Beach Cleanup ...
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16. Car donation father joe
... Father's Day Contest History in memory of his late father, Joe Sr., who was his guiding light to baseball. and donating proceeds of his planning guides to ProLiteracy Worldwide, Iowa boy goes against ...
http://car-donation.sites ...nation-father-joe.htm

17. Mama Blog: Happy Father's Day!
... June 19, 2005 Happy Father's Day! (click for full size image) Posted by christy at June 19, 2005 07:59 AM Comments Wow, Christy! You need to enter that photo in a contest. Terrific! Posted by ...
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18. Hero Arts Father's Day Message - 50% off! - HA-C2961
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19. father day gift basket
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20. Scrapbook.com Layout Gallery - Father's Day - Powered by PhotoPost
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21. Conscious Choice: Happy Father’s Day —<br>How’s Your...
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22. Writing Kid Book
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23. Untitled Document
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24. Contest Winners
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25. Father's World | Father's Day Contest
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26. LastMinuteGolfer - Father's Day Golf Gift Certificates
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27. Tie one on for Father's Day
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28. Great Lakes Eagles
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29. Father's Day Gift Ideas
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30. Event Photos
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http://www.monroevillepubliclibrary.com/Photos.htm

31. FishinPals: Fishing Faith Fellowship
... I see this annually when we judge letters in the annual "Why I Want to Take My Dad Fishing for Father's Day Contest" (we'll announce details of the 2004 contest soon). The youngest letter-writers ...
http://www.fishinpals.org ...buildsfriendships.htm

32. Billy Bear's Happy Father's Day
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http://www.billybear4kids ...lidays/father/dad.htm

33. Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group
... Times Tobey dedicates new helicopter pad June 26 | Standard-Times RAPPP names finalists in Father's Day contest June 25 | Providence Business News Newsmakers: Jo Ann Rapoza June 23 | Standard-Times ...
http://www.southcoast.org/news/inthenews/