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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Nearly 100 fathers and their children took part in the White Plains Fatherhood Olympics last year, and the city's Youth Bureau director, Frank Williams, hopes to attract even more this year.
The second-annual Fatherhood Olympics, part of the Youth Bureau's Fatherhood Initiative, will be held Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Eastview Middle School track and field area. Fathers and their children can celebrate Father's Day early by coming together to play tennis, basketball, softball, golf, track and field games and more.
The Youth Bureau's Fatherhood Inititiave began in 2009 and encourages fathers to play an active role in their children's lives.
"I work with so many children in this community who don't have a father around," said Williams, a father of two daughters. "The spirit of this is to help fathers reclaim their purpose and play an active role in the positive development of their children. We know when fathers are involved we see higher outcomes, we see greater success, we see a healthier community."
The Fatherhood Olympics puts the spotlight on fathers by giving them an opportunity to do something meaningful in their community, Williams said.
Applications for the Fatherhood Olympics can be downloaded from the Youth Bureau website.
The event is sponsored by Youth Bureau, in conjunction with the White Plains School District, Dick's Sporting Goods, Backyard Sports, African American Men of Westchester, El Centro Hispano, Thomas H. Slater Center, YMCA, YWCA, the Beta Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Stop and Shop Supermarket.
Families can also celebrate Father's Day with a free concert in Turnure Park featuring a tribute to Earth Wind & Fire at 7 p.m. The rain date is Monday.
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