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
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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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Father-daughter duo Rick and Daisy Gideon on learning lessons through Good Dads Strong Schools
What do making paper airplanes, coloring pictures and creating pipe cleaner creatures all have in common? These are great, simple
Father-son duo Brian and Hudson on bonding opportunities through Strong Good Dads Schools
Father of three sons Brian Stranghoener didn’t know what he was getting into when his 4th grader, Hudson, brought home
Simple Moments, Big Impact: Dads Making a Difference at School
In the latest episode of the Good Dads Great Communities podcast, we spoke to experts about father involvement in elementary
The Griffin family on learning the value of teamwork through Good Dads Strong Schools
Eric Griffin, Springfield father of two kindergarteners and two fifth graders, knows what being a busy father looks like. He
Good Dads Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap on fatherhood engagement efforts in schools
Most people would be more than happy to stay retired after serving nearly 40 years in the education sector. Jim
Bringing it Home Attendees Joined Good Dads for First-Ever Reunion
We loved seeing Good Dads leaders from across the state Friday, July 18, at our Family Reunion in Springfield, MO.
Measure Twice, Learn Once
I have so many Tom stories, I thought I would share another one. It has always bugged me how Tom
June Conversations: Inspiring Insights from Four Good Dads Episodes
This month on the Good Dads Podcast, our lineup explored vital areas of fatherhood: from raising financially responsible kids to
What Are You Doing This Summer? A Word of Caution in our Screen-Reliant World
School’s out and the kids are in—in your homes, in your refrigerators and in your hair. The newness of the
Good Dads Graduation Celebrates Two-Dozen Fathers
We honored 24 exceptional men on Thursday, June 12, at the Downtown Church in Springfield, MO. This amazing event, with
Staying Grounded: Helping Kids Navigate Peer Pressure and Self-Esteem
In Episode 5 of Good Dads’ The Intentional Dad podcast, hosts J. Fotsch and Jason Hynson sit down with Dyllan
Announcement: Three Missouri towns win Good Dads Great Communities of the Year Contest
Good Dads, Missouri’s leading father-focused non-profit, named three communities, Ava, Rolla and Texas County, as its Great Communities of the