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:

AJ and his first day in kindergarten - an interview (BlogRodent)
I teach gifted Kindergarten... your use of Podcasting is precious. As I explore ways to increase technology use in my classroom, I am inspired to use the idea of interviewing in Audacity to preserve the great moments that gifted Kindergarteners supply. I listened to the complete interview and you are a FABULOUS father... you are encouraging the best in your child. AJ will go far in life. Good luck to you all!!!!
The Movie Review Of The Kinky Boots
... Boots is a combination of comedy and drama. After his father dies, Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton), is left to revive his father?s quickly dying shoe business. With each new obstacle, Charlie considers selling the business just as his father had done. That was all until the day he met Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who tried to help Charlie out of a beating. Lola's cross-dressing character gives the Charlie idea that just might bring his fathers business back into the black with the designing of boots for Lola and her other cross dressing friends. But Lola doesn't immediately win any favors with the men in company and nothing can prepare Charlie for the disastrous fashion show that spotlights his newest creation, not even the budding romance between him and his newly acquired assistant Lauren...
Father says had no idea Madonna adopting son
+ ] By Eldson ChagaraLIPUNGA, Malawi (Reuters) - The father of the Malawian boy Madonna plans to adopt added a fresh twist to the saga, saying he never intended his son to be adopted by the pop d...
Malawi father says he had no idea Madonna was ‘adopting’ his son
Lipunga: The father of the Malawian boy Madonna plans to adopt added a fresh twist to the saga, saying he never intended his son to be adopted by the pop diva, but only for her to raise the child on his behalf.In an ...
Father of investigator charged in HP probe says son is innocent
The father of a private investigator charged in the Hewlett-Packard Co. spying probe said his son had no idea he was working for the company and should be cleared of all allegations.

Your Best Fathers Day Resources:

1. Father Day Gift Idea /\ Merops.co.uk
... Hire In Portsmouth SHOWER CUBICLES Slendertone Product Web Page Hosting Weekend Break Away father day gift idea Results Interflora - Father Day gift ideas Interflora, the UK and worldwide online flower ...
http://www.merops.co.uk/1410_father.html

2. Father's Day Gift Ideas - FindGift.com
... Father's Day Gift Ideas Father's Day Golf Gadgets Fishing Tools ... Keepsake. Choose from our 8 father poems or write your own! Free ... like a real cover! Unique gift idea for dad, boss, grad or retiree ...
http://www.findgift.com/Holidays/Fathers-Day/

3. Day Father Idea Scrapbooking
Copyright © 2004 by GotFamiliesOnline Pricing| Contact Us| Privacy and Terms| Help| Bible Prophecy| Mail this site to a friend Home > Scrapbook > Scrapbooking > Day Father Idea Scrapbooking ...
http://www.gotfamiliesonl ...dea-scrapbooking.html

4. Father's Day Song - Free kids crafts to keep children busy. Kidís crafts, ga...
... Idea Box Web Father's Day Song Need: THIS IS TO MY FATHER, MY FATHER, MY FATHER. THIS IS TO MY FATHER, THE BEST FATHER OF ALL. HE IS HAPPY HE IS JOLLY I LOVE HIM MY GOLLY. OH, THIS IS TO MY FATHER ...
http://www.theideabox.com/Father's_Day_Song.html

5. help you look for father day gift idea information and related resources
Find father day gift idea here - father day gift idea related information? Web zeekzy.com Related Searches for father day gift idea craft gift idea gift basket idea girlfriend gift idea mother day ...
http://www.zeekzy.com/val ...er-day-gift-idea.html

6. Unique Gift Idea for Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day
... An ideal fathers day gift, mothers day gift and a great Christmas gift idea. I wanted to Be a Better Taster WineLovers' Challengeô grew out of my professional interest as well as personal enjoyment ...
http://www.wineloverschallenge.com/invent.html

7.
Father Day Idea Information Top Father Day Idea Resources Our Top Father Day Idea Resource Election 2004 Collectible Playing Cards The Bush Deck & Kerry Deck are casino-quality decks of playings ...
http://www.1webresources. ...k/father-day-idea.htm

8. Make a ladybird card for Father's Day.
Make a ladybird card for Father's Day. Grandpa Koala's craft activity for Father's Day. If you encounter problems : Links to other parts of the site : Daddy's song. Kwala will teach you the song ...
http://www.uptoten.com/ki ...-father-activity.html

9. Best card day father idea make Site Resources
card day father idea make Best card day father idea make Site Internet Resource Directory Sponsored card day father idea make Links A Note from our Editor: Hello, Welcome to our card day father idea ...
http://speedy-find.info/f ...-father-idea-make.php

10. Father's Day Gift Ideas, Gifts
... Funny Father's Day Gift Stories Clip Art for Father's Day Hot Gift Ideas Halloween Fun Game Ideas ... ... Newsletter Back To Home Page Link To Gift Idea Center Google All images and content are ...
http://www.giftideacenter ...rs_Day/gift_ideas.htm

11. Early Church Fathers
Home | About Us | Contact Us Resource List Church Fathers Thomas Aquinas Men's Resources Bible ...
http://www.kwikmind.com/earlychurchfathers.html

12. craft day father idea kid Resources
craft day father idea kid Resources Chore Worksheets for Kids Web Directory and Resources Sponsored Links Want to turn your decorating dreams into reality? Then read on, because it doesn't get any ...
http://www.chore-workshee ...-father-idea-kid.html

13. father day gift basket and idea
father day gift basket and idea >Amanda Farnum takes the home the prize for the best gift idea in the Best Mother's Day Ever Contest (Richmond.com) What are your plans for Memorial Day weekend ...
http://www.moviemartgifts ...gift-basket-and-idea/

14. Father's Day Crafts | Kid | Idea | Teen | Projects | Present | Picture Frame...
quick advanced Scroll down for the article Father's Day Crafts Crafty Father's Day Gifts So, Father's Day is approaching fast and you're a little short on cash? No problem - these cheap, easy ...
http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p4478.htm

15. trout jewelry duck jewelry duck pins deer jewelry animal jewelry wildlife
... MOUSEOVER Wildlife Ringtones Sterling Silver- trout pin Our Goldsmith's choice for opening day of trout season in Pennsylvania. don't get shut-out this year! These soft stuffed duck toys make the ...
http://www.choicefishing.com/

16. e- Gift Ideas - Gift idea for christmas gift idea for holidays
... gift idea? and no waiting in line romantic gift idea more information gift wholesale, when you need ... ... Parkersburg Fort Collins . holiday gift father Oakland Bryan Easton, PA shops Anniston, AL ...
http://www.e-gift-ideas.com/

17. Father's Day gift ideas from The Unique Gift Idea Directory
The Unique Gift Idea Directory 2005 Holiday Dates 2006 Holiday Dates Unique gifts /Father's Day ... ... Celebrate your father on his special day with a unique gift idea to enlighten his day. Show dad how ...
http://www.tugid.com/fathers_day/fathers_day.html

18. Gizmos for Geeks | Father's Day Gift Idea #4: Motorized Tie Rack
... Browse in : All > Gizmos for Geeks Articles > Home and Garden > Home Furnishing Father's Day Gift Idea #4: Motorized Tie Rack Posted by: Chief Gadgeteer on Fri, 10 June 2005 04:00:00 For the ...
http://www.gizmosforgeeks ...ndex.php/articles/996

19. Father's day gift idea - basket pattern design wooden chess box set with che...
Father's day gift idea - basket pattern design wooden chess box set with chess table can be flipped to close HomeWholesale PricesOrder InfoWholesale Order FormFAQ Show Schedule Sterling Silver ...
http://www.beautifulstuff ...e-gift/CHESSH9422.htm

20. Father Day Gift Basket Idea , homemade gift basket idea, christmas gift bask...
HOME >> father day gift basket idea Father day gift basket idea basket craft gift idea basket birthday gift idea father day gift basket idea offers wicihe: basket gift idea themed unique gift ...
http://gift_basket_idea.c ..._gift_basket_idea.htm

21.
Home Search FATHER's DAY CARDS I made myself cry doing mother's day cards... I wonder if I can make daddy cry with the father's day ones... You can either use the Junior Asparagus card template ...
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/dad/mdadcard.html

22. Daddy Types, the weblog for new dads: One Father's Day Gift Idea: The Idaho ...
June 17, 2005 One Father's Day Gift Idea: The Idaho Makeover categories: advice Don't know how I missed this one. My brother snapped this advertisement from North & Co., a fine local establishment ...
http://daddytypes.com/arc ...e_idaho_makeover.html

23. Holiday Gift Baskets, Corporate Holiday Basket Gifts, Christmas, Hanukkah, T...
... St. Patrick's Day Easter Baskets Father's Day Gifts Graduation Gifts Secretary's Day Gifts Teacher's Day - 5/3 Nurse's Day - 5/6 Mother's Day Baskets Independence Day Items Under $25 In A Hurry? Clock ...
http://www.holiday-gifts-gift-baskets.com/

24. Father Day Gift Idea Uk - greatchristmasgiftideas.com
Father Day Gift Idea Uk Gifts Site Map Coming Soon Gifts Blog father day gift uk - father day gift idea uk - fathers day gift - ª one stop online shop for the perfect fathers day gift idea. ... day ...
http://www.greatchristmas ...day-gift-idea-uk.html

25. Gift Idea : Society Holidays Father's Day Gift Ideas Wedding gift Gifts for ...
... letter ... the winter holidays, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day ... have ownership ... it's their idea of how it looks ... Cameron: Catch-of-the-day tale proves quite alluring ...
http://www.giftideas.in/i ...olidays/Father's_Day/

26. unique corporate gift, father day present, gift idea for an anniversary
unique corporate gift Stop searching for unique corporate gift, father day present, gift idea for an anniversary and also. Save third wedding anniversary gift without warning unique corporate gift ...
http://nontraditionalwedd ...porate_gift_fath.html

27. Candy gift, gift idea, gift baby, father day gift online
... basket wine gift gift anniversary unusual gift gift anniversary gift registry father day gift online christian,Gift idea gift special gift sympathy gift shopping gift visa gift card baby gift basket ...
http://candy-gift.oilmed.com/

28. Anniversary gift. Wedding anniversary gift. Birthday gift. Wedding gift. Tra...
... Best regards, Allen Full package and pricing details can be found here Allen's Recent All Of Fame All The Best Anniversary Gift Birthday Gift The Gift of Birth A Christmas Gift Father's Day Gift A ...
http://www.agiftofpoetry.co.uk/

29. Day father gift idea preschool
... Basket coffee gift gourmet handcrafted Personalized sister gift 40 birthday gift Cheap father day gift idea Father day gift idea suggestion Day father gift keepsake Day father gift present unusual ...
http://www.wavedancing.ne ...giftideapreschool.htm

30. Personalized - Christmas Gifts, Anniversary Gift, Baptism & Poems
... All Poetry Gifts are individually designed for your husband, wife, father, mother, grandparents, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, aunt, Godparents, and more. With our personalized poetry and your ...
http://www.poetrygift.com/

31. Christmas Gifts, Baby Shower Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for ...
... The best gift I ever gave to my wife according to her was a gift certificate to a day spa it was a big, big hit. Choosing the right gift This easy to use siteoffers advice on what you should buy for ...
http://www.kl-gifts.com/

32. present idea for father day, uk gift shop, unique groomsmen gift
present idea for father day No bull about present idea for father day, uk gift shop, unique groomsmen gift with no credit. Amazing birthday gift for dad and the gifts you are looking for present idea ...
http://holidaygift.a-birt ...ea_for_father_da.html

33. Gift Baskets For Him - male man father dad brother gift baskets delivered co...
... gift idea delivery for him gift idea shipped ship fishing gift ... Professionals - Secretary's Day , Thanksgiving, Wedding ... Funeral Condolence, New Baby , Father's Day, Promotions ...
http://www.gourmetgroceryonline.com/gifts_for_him_

34. info: FATHER DAY GIFT IDEA
info: FATHER DAY GIFT IDEA Photo by http://daddytypes.com/ Father Day Gift Idea Bush segues into gift for Japan's Koizumi - Seattle Times - KYOTO, Japan President Bush gave Japanese Prime Minister ...
http://www.proogle.org/in .../father+day+gift+idea