Gallery: Good Dads donors discover the ‘key’ to great communities
September 25, 2026
Yesterday evening, the central feeling in everyone’s hearts at our intimidate dinner was gratitude. With the Good Dads board of
Good Dads Blog
Sort by Topic:
Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! At Good Dads, we’re excited for another year of school success stories and lessons for lifelong learning. Your children may be dragging their feet on the first day of school. They may be excited to see old friends and even make some new ones. No matter how your child […]
...
August has arrived, and with it comes the task of getting ready for the start of the school year. Time to make the trip to the local supercenter to get the kiddos pencils, paper, crayons, and glue sticks. You want to have them prepared so they can do their very best, right? So, now that […]
...
Have you heard of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”? This statement means that children need the helpful and loving support of lots of grown-ups—not just parents—to succeed. It also means that dads and moms shouldn’t have to do it all alone! As a dad, it’s tempting to assume that […]
...
Following Good Dads’ screening of “Gone Guys,” an energetic—sometimes hopeful, sometimes sad—but nonetheless meaningful conversation occurred. We hosted a six-member panel to speak about their personal and professional experiences as it relates to the themes and topics in the documentary. Over the past fifty years, boys and young men have steadily disengaged from school, work […]
...
With Thanksgiving season upon us, dads and their young learners across the state are learning about gratitude and respect with the Good Dads Strong Schools program. The message in these lessons is clear: Showing gratitude shouldn’t just happen once a year. Being grateful should happen every day! Schools across Missouri use the Good Dads Strong […]
...
At Good Dads, we talk a lot about the importance of being an intentional father, but what does that actually mean? As it turns out, it means a lot of things! Being “intentional” means taking an active role as a parent. It means deciding, not sliding. And from what we’ve learned on the podcast, being […]
...
Brian Mattson has a lot of roles in his life: husband, father of two, lead pastor of the Downtown Church in Springfield, and Good Dads Strong Schools captain for McGregor Elementary. Brian heard about this new way to get involved in his community from Good Dads’ founder Dr. Jennifer Baker, who attends church where Brian […]
...
Have you ever had this thought? You buy a Powerball ticket and discover you won the jackpot! You’ve made it!! You can quit your job, pay off the mortgage, buy the car you’ve always wanted, and retire to some Caribbean island. I’m sure you have – I have. Even though we dream that just doing […]
...
What do making paper airplanes, coloring pictures and creating pipe cleaner creatures all have in common? These are great, simple ways for dads to bond with their kids—and beyond that, they’re also all activities featured in Good Dads Strong Schools events! Believe it or not, the simple act of building a paper bridge or playing […]
...
Father of three sons Brian Stranghoener didn’t know what he was getting into when his 4th grader, Hudson, brought home an informational flyer on a before-school breakfast program called Good Dads Strong Schools at his school, Bissett Elementary. Curious, Brian wanted to see what it was all about. For Brian, he’s enjoyed watching his sons […]
...
In the latest episode of the Good Dads Great Communities podcast, we spoke to experts about father involvement in elementary schools. Hosts welcome Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap and Good Dads Board Member Dr. Mike Dawson for a meaningful discussion about how even a few minutes of paternal presence can positively impact schools, families and communities....
Eric Griffin, Springfield father of two kindergarteners and two fifth graders, knows what being a busy father looks like. He works hard as an accountant to provide for his family, but it’s rare for him to see his children until late into the evening after work. “Most days I get up and I’m at work […]
...
Gallery: Good Dads donors discover the ‘key’ to great communities
Yesterday evening, the central feeling in everyone’s hearts at our intimidate dinner was gratitude. With the Good Dads board of
Facilitators Sharpen Leadership Skills at Good Dads FORGE Training Camp
Thank you for another successful Training Camp! A dozen facilitators joined Good Dads in Springfield, MO, last week from across
Let’s Talk About It: Combatting Stigmas of Men’s Mental Health
On our last Good Dads Communicators blog, we talked about why it’s so important that dads prioritize their physical health
More dads are talking to their doctors about their long-term health
“I’m fine.” “I’ll walk it off.” “It’s too much of a hassle.” “Doc’s not going to tell me something I
Starting School on the Right Foot: Advice from a Teacher
Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! At Good Dads, we’re excited for another year of school success stories and lessons
Ready for School? Built-in school resources to help your student succeed
August has arrived, and with it comes the task of getting ready for the start of the school year. Time
It Takes a Village: Being a Good Dad, Collaboratively
Have you heard of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”? This statement means that children
Just What the Doctor Ordered: Communicating with Your Child’s Pediatrician
This year on the Good Dads blog, we’ve examined many ways dads can be good communicators to their partners and
Hear, Hear!: Clear Communication for Families
“When clear communication is taking place, we feel informed, engaged, involved and aware.” That’s what Brian Mattson, father of two
Our Takeaways from the ‘Gone Guys’ Documentary Screening
Following Good Dads’ screening of “Gone Guys,” an energetic—sometimes hopeful, sometimes sad—but nonetheless meaningful conversation occurred. We hosted a six-member
Good Dads hosts New Pathways graduation
This time of year is special for several reasons, with schools letting out across the country, students moving up a
Mending Fences: The Three R’s of a Good Apology
Jude asks his son Kyle (15) to take out the trash by the time he gets back from the store.