Proud Dads Celebrate Father's Day Early

A local group of dads celebrated Father's Day just a little bit early Saturday, with a cook-out at Shiawassee Park in Farmington.

They're members of the and Proud Dads Club, and off-shoot of an organization founded 11 years ago in Birmingham by Jay Kalisky. The event, he said, was designed as a kick-off to get other schools to open a chapter.

Proud Dads was created as a way to help fathers connect with their children's schools. "If dads wanted to help (at school), they wouldn't know what to do," Kalisky said. "We have one meeting a year, where we tell dads about all the events going on at school that year. Some are PTA events, but certain events are just Proud Dads."

The group's motto, he added, is "Moms, dads and kids make the perfect school team."

At Warner and Dunckel, the Proud Dads events this past year included the "Dine & Dash," where dads or other caring adults come in to share lunch with their children. According to Proud Dad Robert Seals, who manned the grill at Saturday's event, Warner Proud Dads also taught kids basketball basics and held a career day.

Seals, whose daughter Kennedi is in 6th grade at Warner, got involved after hearing Kalisky speak about the organization. "Once we saw what Jay was doing, and the effect it had on the schools, we thought we could do the same thing," Seals said.

Warner's assistant principal, Tonya Corbitt, encouraged a group of dads to attend, he added. "When the administration cares about the school, it makes it easier for the parents."

Dunckel and Warner Proud Dad Steve Selinsky attended the meeting as well. "I just liked the idea, and how dads can play more of a role in the school," he said. "My wife, Carrie, volunteers all the time ... I wanted to be able to give back somehow."

Selinsky belongs to both groups; his son Jake is a 5th grader at Warner and his daughter Madison is a 7th grader at Dunckel. He was a Warner "Proud to be Purple" dance and fundraiser this past year brought in 350 kids. The money raised went to fund events, like the cookout.

A 1986 grad (and alum), Selinsky said he has noticed even the kids whose fathers aren't able to be involved appreciate it when dads show up at the school.

"They like to see you there," he said. "It's good to have the role models."

Saturday's event was co-sponsored by Farmington Youth Assistance and Farmington PTA.

Correction: The name and title of Tonya Corbitt, who is Warner Upper Elementary School's assistant principal, have been corrected.