Every little girl might need her mom, but the comfort, security and love of a dad is equally important in teaching her how to nurture and build relationships with men.
Award-winning journalist, founder of Daddy’s Promise and single dad Ed Gordon understands this more than anyone, and it’s what inspired him to launch Daddy’s Promise, his nonprofit organization, which is devoted to fostering and strengthening relationships between daughters and their fathers. The group held its his first annual Father/Daughter Dance on Sunday, June 14, in New York City.
More than 500 fathers and their daughters filled New York Hilton hotel where the annual 100 Black Men Conference was held for a special day of bonding. Participants enjoyed the sounds of soulful crooner Will Downing, a performance by Cupid, who sings “Cupid Shuffle,” while DJ Beverly Bond spun classics and new tunes. Also on hand to celebrate their fathers were actress Vivica A. Fox and “The View” cohost Sherri Shepherd, who both brought their father’s along.
“It was far more than we could have ever hoped for to watch all those men promising a lifetime of love to their daughters,” says Gordon, whose daughter, Taylor, was on hand to help out and spend some time with her dad. “I’m not a sentimental guy, but it was truly a mushy moment to watch men become emotional with tears of joy. This goes beyond a father and daughter relationship, but about what that relationship teaches our daughters about how they should be treated by boys and as they get older, the men they will interact with. Again, it was a wonderful evening.”
For more information on Daddy’s Promise, visit www.daddyspromise.com.