Fathers Walk

Congratulations to the many people who participated in this year’s Fathers Walk in Cuyahoga County! 107 schools and more than 12,000 fathers participated this year! Here is a list of schools involved and a message from the Administrator of the Fatherhood Initiative – Al Grimes on the importance of such a huge turnout.

We would like to thank all of the fathers, father figures, schools administrators and others who helped make our Fathers Walk 2021 an outstanding success. 107 schools and over 12,000 fathers participated. The impact of this involvement of fathers on their children and their academic success will be felt for years to come. We encourage all Dads who participated to follow the pledge that was taken on September 23rd by continuing to be involved throughout the school year, encouraging your children to do their best, helping with homework, attending parent/teacher conferences, volunteering at the school and other actions. Please see attached list of the schools who participated. Once again CONGRATULATIONS!!! Fatherhood Initiative Administrator, Al Grimes.

Participating Schools List

Fathers Walk is an annual event where dads from across the city (as well as grandfathers, uncles, brothers and caregivers, both male and female) join children in their walk to school.

Dads and mentors who participate take the following pledge:

• I am responsible for the education of my child.
• I will encourage all children to do their best every day at school.
• I will speak to my child about the value of learning and the importance of reaching your potential.
• I will help with school work and review assignments for completion.
• I will praise my child when he/she does well in school.
• will speak with my child's teachers and support them in educating my child.
• I will teach my child the value of education and the value of family.

I will work with my child's mother or guardian to achieve the best academic and social outcomes for my child even if I do not live with my child.

Hundreds of fathers, stepfathers, and father figures will walk their children to school for Cuyahoga County’s annual Fathers Walk on Thursday, September 23, 2021. The Fathers Walk is a demonstration of men’s visible, proactive engagement in their children’s lives and creates family support and a celebration of education like no other event of its kind.

The Fathers Walk is part of a national event taking place during the first month of the school year by fathers in more than 750 cities throughout the United States. The event is simple – fathers escort their children to school by walking them to the door and have the opportunity to meet the principal and teachers.

“A father’s involvement in his children’s lives is very important,” said Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative Administrator Aldonis Grimes. “Research shows father  involvement is essential to promoting good classroom behavior, better grades, and higher educational attainment levels”.  

In addition to walking their children to school, fathers are encouraged to make a year-long commitment to dedicating themselves to family, supporting their children financially, spiritually, and emotionally, and building clean and healthy communities.

The Fathers Walk is sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative, Passages Inc., I Am a Dream, and the Healthy Fatherhood Collaborative.

Visit the event on our calendar here: https://hhs.cuyahogacounty.us/news/calendar/2021/09/23/fatherhood-initiative/fathers-walk