Congratulations CPO Patrick Mondragon, US Navy, recipient of the 2013 Military Fatherhood Award™!

Voting for the 2013 Military Fatherhood Award™ finalists has now concluded on Facebook! Stay tuned for updates and information regarding the award ceremony!

Learn about Sponsorship Opportunities

Your corporation gains brand exposure and tangible support to material families by sponsoring the 2013 Military Fatherhood Award™!

Click here to learn more about benefits and opportunities of sponsorship >>

What is the Military Fatherhood Award™?

The Military Fatherhood Award recognizes and lifts up as an example a military dad who displays an ongoing commitment and dedication to his child(ren), makes extraordinary efforts to father from a distance (when deployed), successfully balances military and family life, and makes an effort to mentor other military fathers and/or military children.

Why is the Military Fatherhood Award™important?

The Military Fatherhood Award™ recognizes a military dad who is making a difference for his country, the military community, and most importantly, his own children.
The Military Fatherhood Award™ enables NFI to draw national attention to the challenges military families endure and show them that their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.
Fatherhood skill-building resources are provided to military installations through sponsorship funds, equipping military fathers to stay connected with their children and balance the responsibilities of military duty and family life.

Who supports the Military Fatherhood Award™?

National media has consistently featured the Military Fatherhood Award™ over the years, in addition to widespread local print and television coverage across the country. For example, the 2011 Awardee was announced on Fox & Friends and both Fox & Friends and HLN featured the 2012 finalists.
The White House has recognized several past Military Fatherhood Award™ recipients at special White House events. 2009 Awardee Chief Quartermaster John Lehnen (U.S. Navy) visited with President Obama in the Oval Office, 2011 Awardee LS1 Christopher Cady was recognized at a White House Father's Day event, and 2012 Awardee Lt. William Edwards received his award at the White House and had lunch with President Obama.
Prominent brands have sponsored the Military Fatherhood Award™, including Capital One, Nissan, Gillette, FedEx, Lockheed Martin, TriWest, and Boy Scouts of America.

What struggles do military families face?

1.8 million military children are affected by the unique stresses of military life. They watch their dad leave for a war zone and agonize that he may never return. They struggle to accept that for the fifth time in ten years they will have to move to a new school and make new friends. They feel the pressure to shoulder dad’s responsibilities but feel inadequate to do so.
Military children experience many of the same outcomes as children who live in father absent homes. These potential outcomes include increased depression, heightened behavior and social problems, lower academic achievement, etc. However, the negative impact of a dad’s military service on his children can be mitigated by how well he relates with his kids and their mom.
Approximately 593,000 active-duty service members and nearly 300,000 U.S. reservists are dads. 150,000 military fathers are currently deployed, with deployments ranging from 30 days to 15 months.

How is the Military Fatherhood Award™ winner chosen?

NFI solicits nominations for the Military Fatherhood Award™ from the military community and receives up to 600 nominations a year. Nominations come from wives, children, parents, and colleagues of dads representing every branch of the military. Nominations are judged on evidence provided by the nominator that the nominee meets specific criteria.
The general public chooses the winner by voting for three finalists on NFI’s Facebook page.
The Awardee is honored at a special ceremony at his installation and recognized by NFI before his colleagues, family, and members of the community for his service to the country and to his family.

How can you be involved?

Learn about how National Fatherhood Initiative supports Military Fathers and Families, and how you can too!
Nominate a military dad you think is worthy of this award. The nomination process will be announced on this page early in the calendar year.
Ask your company to sponsor the Military Fatherhood Award™. Contact Ryan Sanders at rsanders@fatherhood.org or 240-912-1268 for more information.
If you work for the media, contact Vincent DiCaro, Vice President of Development and Communication, at vdicaro@fatherhood.org or 240-912-1270.