Father’s Day is a time to reflect on the experiences that many of us have with our fathers and, as fathers, with our own children. However, many children will spend this Father’s day without a dad present in their lives. One of the important initiatives of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has been to re-engage dads with their children. Often times, circumstances create a complicated dynamic between fathers and their children, particularly in South Carolina’s poor communities. Sine 1998, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has invested more than $17 million to help reconnect fathers with their children. The Foundation has also assisted fathers in becoming contributing members of society. This is accomplished through multiple fatherhood programs around the state. Program services include support for job training, relationship building, education (acquiring a GED), payment of child support, health access and an array of other areas of support to meet fathers where they most need it.

The statistics are impressive. The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, an outgrowth of the Foundation's Fatherhood Initiative, reports that more than 1,500 men were served through their programs last year. From that group, 452 gained employment and paid more than $964,000 in child support. Some were even able to pay arrears for past due child support, and more than $179,000 in arrears was collected. Had fatherhood programs not been an option for these men, there is a strong probability that they would have landed in jail which would have cost state taxpayers a significant expense. The South Carolina Supreme Court Justice and many Family Court Judges have embraced the “alternatives to incarceration” concept and Family Court Judges are ordering men to enroll in fatherhood programs. Many of these men attend parenting education classes and most increase the time spent with their child. Several received health screenings and gained access to health care for health issues that previously were untreated, such as hypertension and diabetes.

So as we celebrate Father’s Day in 2011, we have a lot to be grateful for. We are grateful for our own fathers and also for our children. South Carolinians should also be grateful for the programs and services that are being provided for those fathers who have very few options and are struggling to meet their parental and financial obligations. Let’s hope that this Father’s Day is a special one for all of South Carolina’s fathers and their children. They all deserve it.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Foundation To Unveil Leadership In Diversity Award

The Sisters of Charity Foundation will introduce a new award this month. The award, Leadership in Diversity, allows the Foundation to recognize an individual or organization who has championed diversity through action and leadership. The Foundation’s ongoing commitment to diversity is important. It is a fundamental part of our culture and it is essential for us to, not only demonstrate the value we place on diversity, but also to publicly share these values with others.

The award will be a model example of a person or organization’s accomplishments made through community engagement, awareness, bridge building, compassionate leadership and courageous advocacy. The awards’ first recipient will be announced on June 13 during the Foundation’s Celebration and Awards Luncheon.  

The Foundation is excited about this award and what it represents. It is a real chance for the Foundation to recognize others that have worked across racial, religious and cultural lines and brought about positive change throughout our community and state. Leadership in Diversity Award recipients demonstrate a commitment to cultural awareness and are steering the successful integration of diversity, equity and fairness principles into practices.

As the Foundation works to lift families out of poverty, it is the Foundation’s goal to lead, and to find leaders that embrace and can further the Foundation’s mission. Leadership can take on many shapes. It is important that leaders in our community have a passion for and a commitment to the underserved population as we work in diverse communities.  The Leadership in Diversity award is a monumental next step for the Foundation, and we look forward to introducing it and recognizing its first recipient on Monday. 

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina