On Friday, the Father’s Day Rally Committee, Inc. kicked off Father’s Day Weekend with the 16th Annual Fatherhood Award Reception honoring the service of men and fathers.
According to the Father’s Day Rally Committee’s website, its mission “is to promote positive action and interaction among individuals to prompt more aggressive hands on action toward resolving a range of problems confronting African American communities in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.”
This year marked the 24th Anniversary Celebration of the Annual FDRC. During the opening remarks, Bilal Qayyum, president and founder of FDRC, said the committee’s services are needed now more than ever to continue leading the fatherhood movement.
NBC10 reporter Daralene Jones was the mistress of ceremonies for the evening.
“There are not a lot of events centered on African American men in a positive way,” Jones said. “When we see young people doing positive things we have to support them.”
Sen. Anthony Williams was the honorary chair of this year’s celebration. As he reminisced about his father, the late Hardy Williams, he spoke of the significance between the relationship of a father and son along with FDRC’s relentless efforts to attack the negative attitudes towards the African American community.
“The desires, commitment and endless energy FDRC has devoted to the community show that their spirit is invested in the value of family,” Williams said. “We have to make sure our children go to Yale not jail; to Penn State and not the state pen.”
Dr. Tom Reid, founder of Southwest Nustop and board member of FDRC, was presented with a surprise honor for his unwavering commitment to both the community and committee. As a therapist, he said he has seen the devastation of not having a father causes men and organizations like FDRC are extremely important to combat the issues.
“We need to develop mechanisms that maintain the institutionalization of fathers in the community,” Reid said. “We keep putting bandages on the same issues…we have to come together.”
Other honorees at the ceremony included Grammy Award winning and multi-platinum selling song writer Carvin Haggins; Wesley Wilson–Bey, founder and chairman of the Moorish Unification Council of the World Inc.; Steve Vassor, senior manager for Education with the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey; Robert H. Dickerson, founder of the Unity Community Center of S.J. Inc.; Dr. Glenn Ellis, health advocacy communication specialist; Richard Negrin, deputy mayor of administration and coordination and managing director of the City of Philadelphia; John Davidson, dean of students for Mastery Charter Schools and Malik Rose, former NBA player and current broadcaster for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The event was sponsored by Citizens Bank Park, Comcast, Clear Channel, Villa, SugarHouse Casino, Brown’s Family ShopRite, Radio One, Keystone First, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, HealthPartners and PECO.
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