Gallery: Good Dads donors discover the ‘key’ to great communities
September 25, 2026
Yesterday evening, the central feeling in everyone’s hearts at our intimate dinner was gratitude. With the Good Dads board of
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Good Dads Recognized with SPS Partner in Excellence Distinction
This week hundreds attended an annual Springfield Public Schools celebration to recognize some of the wonderful individuals and organizations making
Mom and Dad Live in Different Houses
Five years ago, I was faced with what I felt to be an insurmountable task: explain to my two kids
New ‘Good Dads FORGE’ program launches with first class in Fulton, MO
FULTON, MO – Good Dads FORGE, a new program from the statewide nonprofit Good Dads, launched last week with its
Communicating with Clarity
“We have trust issues.” “We fight all the time.” “We have trouble communicating.” I’ve heard these phrases countless times over
Understanding Two New Good Dads Programs
This week on the Good Dads Blog we sat down with one of the newest members of the Good Dads
A Peek Inside Our Newest Curriculum, Fundamentals for Good Dads
Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about Fundamentals for Good Dads, the newest curriculum from Good Dads. This eight-part course is
Feeling Understood: The Role of Identity in Communication
Have you ever heard the phrase “men are from Mars, women are from Venus”? Popularized by the 1992 bestselling novel
Communicating Well with Baby on the Way
Becoming a parent changes everything. Your routines, your priorities, even how you communicate and collaborate with your partner. For expectant
Can-Do Collaboration at Good Dads Chapter Orientation
Friday was a very special day at Good Dads! We’re thrilled with the amount of productive brainstorming and positive feedback
Valentine’s Day Conversations: What Really Makes Us Feel Loved?
Valentine’s Day can be one of the most romantic days of the year — or one of the most disappointing.
Facilitators Gather from Across Missouri for Good Dads +Us Training Camp
Last week, Training Camp looked a little different compared to other Good Dads training events! Whereas we’d typically invite anyone
Money Matters: Currency Communication in Healthy Relationships
The world certainly seems to revolve around the almighty dollar. Money can be the make or break of relationships. Money