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2004 Golden Dads Campaign. This Father's Day Weekend, National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) held the second annual Golden Dads Campaign. Golden Dads is a campaign to acknowledge and reward everyday dads from across the country as they interact with their children in zoos, parks, malls, museums, and other public places where families gather.

For the 2004 campaign, NFI combed hot spots in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Orlando, and Washington, D.C. to award a total of 1,000 great dads across the country. Campaign volunteers from NFI and local fatherhood organizations and sponsors searched places like ESPN Zone, Six Flags America, and several city zoos to find the Golden Dads.

As each dad was "caught" being a good dad - changing a diaper, pushing a stroller, comforting a crying child, playing catch - a campaign volunteer awarded him with a special prize package that included a preview sampler of the upcoming Rendezvous Entertainment album, Golden Slumbers, A Father's Love, and several sponsor-donated prizes, including gift cards for Auntie Anne's pretzels. A Father's Love will feature songs by Dave and Jeff Koz, Smokey Robinson, Richard Marx, Michael McDonald, Michael W. Smith, Carlos Ponce and Buddy Jewell.

But before hitting the streets of the 10 Golden Dads cities, NFI conducted a bicoastal press launch to acknowledge famous fathers from the entertainment, sports, and political worlds. To raise awareness of the Father's Day Weekend events that would see good dads being caught in action across the country, NFI awarded 14 celebrities in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. as the 2004 campaign's first Golden Dads.

In Washington, luminaries from the political, media, and sports world were honored at the Capital Children's Museum. Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Rick Santorum (R-PA), co-chairs of NFI's Senate Task Force on Responsible Fatherhood, received the first awards and shared their thoughts on their private and public commitment to responsible fatherhood.

Fred Barnes of the FoxNews Channel; Joe Jacoby, former Washington Redskin and sports radio personality; Andy Pollin, sports radio anchor; Leon Harris, television news anchor; and Michael Weiss, Olympic figure skater, were also honored at the D.C. press event for their dedication to their children.

In Los Angeles, some of the entertainment world's best dads turned out to the Grove shopping center to be awarded for their devotion to family. Among them were Mark Steines of "Entertainment Tonight" and Chris Rich of the WB Network's "Reba." Upon receiving their awards, all of the celebrity dads spoke passionately of their commitment to their families.

Both events were covered by local press, helping raise awareness of NFI's plan to catch the additional 1,000 Golden Dads in the act of being involved, responsible, and committed fathers on Father's Day Weekend.

For the 1,000 fathers who were awarded, and for all of the celebrity dads and those they inspire through their dedication to fatherhood, this Father's Day was surely a day to remember.

The preview sampler of the upcoming Rendezvous Entertainment release, Golden Slumbers, A Father's Love

Golden Dads Campaign History

The Golden Dads Campaign was inspired by the Rendezvous Entertainment CD, “Golden Slumbers: A Father’s Lullaby,” a collection of classic and unexpected lullabies made especially for fathers and their children, featuring the Grammy-nominated performances of Dave Koz and Jeff Koz. “Golden Slumbers” was a 2003 “Parents’ Choice” award-winner. The Koz brothers were also winners of NFI's 2003 Fatherhood Awards.