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. VOA Special English - AMERICAN MOSAIC - Payphone Project / Father's Day / Ra...
AMERICAN MOSAIC - Payphone Project / Father's Day / Ray Charles By Jill Moss and Nancy Steinbach Broadcast: June 18, 2004 HOST: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English. (THEME) This is ...
http://www.manythings.org/voa/04/040618am_t.htm

2. Mother's/Father's Day: Celebrations - iVillage
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4. Tie Tacks - Sculpey Clay Projects
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5. Father's Day Art
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6. Father's Day: My Dad is the Coolest on the Web Contest
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7. Scrapbook Gallery Paper, Rubber Stamp, Digital Scrapbooking - Father's Day T...
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8. Father Day Craft For Kid NEWS, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
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9. Father's Day Gifts and Ideas available to buy over the 'net
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10. Craftmart Kids Project Sheets - Fish Father's Day Card
"Fishin' Father's Day Card" Supplies: Brown Craft Paper Card (sold several to a package - Borrow one from Mom!) Light and Dark Blue Card Stock Fish Stickers Glue Stick Sharpie Marker - Black ...
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11. Keywords for Graduation Season
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12. Fathers Day - 1st Fathers Day 1st Fathers Day
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13. iVillage - The Internet for Women: Discussing Women's Issues
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http://www.ivillage.com/

14. Craft Day Father Project
Miscellaneous Crafts Informative links to Craft Day Father Project related web sites on the Internet. Menu Selection "Home "Beading Beads "Candle Making "Kid Crafts "Soap Making "Wood Crafts ...
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15. HP Singapore Home & Home Office - Get Creative - Father's day
... Coupons and stationery ª T-shirts and ties ª Father's day cards ª More gift ideas (Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher is required for this project) Coupons and stationery Nap coupon ª Download ...
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16. fathersdaygift
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17. Nonesuch Project - Father's Day
Nonesuch Project An experiment involving real people Jump to navigation 19 June 2005 Father's Day Today was obviously father's day. Church in the morning where I socialized with a couple of the ...
http://www.cyberop5.us/item/334

18. Holidays: Father`s Day
... jun96/0089.html Father`s Day Poems for Free Father`s Day poems which can be used free for any ... ... on the web. Submit a Site - Open Directory Project - Become an Editor Directory listings are ...
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19. KGET TV 17 - In the Spirit of the Golden Empire - Father's Day on October
... Day on October Posted 10/22/05 BAKERSFIELD - Father's Day came early for some local dads, who ... ... Homeless citizens enjoy a hot meal A Cinderella project Familiar Holiday sounds at the Marketplace ...
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20. PURPLEPROSE
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21. Christmas Gifts in Australia | Gifts Australia | Gift Baskets
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22. Babalu Blog: A Father's Day gift to remember (UPDATED)
... Cult of the ALA (Updated) ª June 21, 2005 A Father's Day gift to remember (UPDATED) Remember the ... ... statement from Maria Werlau of the Free Society Project, one of the protests organizers: Freedom ...
http://www.babalublog.com/archives/001860.html

23. Father's Day e-Cards - theOtaku.com
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24. Tire rack - Feed His Automotive Cravings This Father's Day: Gift Ideas From
... Off Your Shoes Across America; The Tire Rack Project: The Tire Rack Client: The Tire Rack Format ... ... News, Feed His Automotive Cravings This Father's Day: Gift Ideas From The Tire Rack, the country ...
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25. Father Day Project
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26. grand father clocks Father's Day ideas Fatherís Day gift
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27. Father's Day Presents and Gift Ideas
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28. HowToMakeStuff.com: Holidays & Seasonal/Father's Day
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29. The My Hero Project - Father's Day 2003
This Fatherís Day has a special meaning for me as an editor at My ... animal." "I deeply believe my father is a hero. The way his life ... many people through this project and many other projects. He ...
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30. Kids Domain Crafts - Father's Day Wall Hanging
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31. June Preschool Curriculum, Preschool Lessons, Preschool Themes, Circle Time,...
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32. Father's Day Clip Art
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33. Father's Day Presents (Lesson Plan)
... will make presents for Father's Day. Materials Depends on which project you choose to do ... ... Here are some Father's Day project ideas: Personalize a photo album for your father, including ...
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/page/5974.html

34. Lifenut » Blog Archive » If I had a blog shortly before Father&#...
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35. Kelly T. Adams: Happy Father's Day! (early)
... America! (Late) ª Happy Father's Day! (early) So it's 6:47 ... is terribly expensive. An eight day course cost me $85 after ... got me started on an ASP.NET project. ASP.NET is the next major ...
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