Video:President Obama Tells Fathers to 'Take Time to be a Dad Today'

19 Jun 2009 21:06 Africa/Lagos


Video: The Department of Health and Human Services Teams Up With The White House and the Ad Council To Launch New Fatherhood Public Service Campaign

PSA Features President Barack Obama Encouraging Fathers to 'Take time to be a dad today' www.fatherhood.gov.



NEW YORK, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for Father's Day weekend, the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced a new public service campaign today promoting fatherhood that features a PSA by President Obama. The campaign, sponsored by the Department's Administration for Children and Families and the Advertising Council, can be found at www.fatherhood.gov. The public service announcements and supporting campaign materials are designed to remind fathers of the critical role they play in their children's lives.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/38852/

In the opening PSA of the campaign, President Obama calls fatherhood "the most important job in a man's life." "Things can get busy, and sometimes we all fall short," he says, "but even the smallest moments can have the biggest impact on a child's life. Take time to be a dad today."

"Sometimes the simplest, smallest things can make a huge difference in a child's life," said Secretary Sebelius. "As the country gets ready to celebrate Father's Day, the President and the Administration are committed to encouraging and supporting efforts by parents and mentors to reach and connect with kids. The Department has a multitude of resources available at fatherhood.gov and we will be working closely with the White House to support their Fatherhood events and outreach in the coming days and weeks."

The announcements, scheduled to begin airing across the country on Father's Day weekend, are part of a media campaign to promote and encourage responsible fatherhood sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families.

They are the work of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, the Ad Council and the Campbell-Ewald agency of Detroit. To date, three television and six radio PSAs have been produced, in addition to multiple print, web and viral ads.

The PSAs encourage fathers to visit www.fatherhood.gov or call 1-877-4DAD411 for parenting tips and additional resources for fathers. To view the ads, visit www.fatherhood.gov or www.adcouncil.org.

"President Obama's involvement in the campaign is a continuation of the commitment he has shown to strengthening fatherhood. As our nation's 'First Dad,' President Obama's words are sure to be an inspiration this Father's Day and beyond," said Roland C. Warren, Media Campaign Director for the NRFC.

"We are delighted to join President Obama and Secretary Sebelius for this poignant campaign as we recognize all fathers nationwide this Sunday," said Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of the Ad Council. "I believe these PSAs will encourage more fathers this weekend and throughout the year to take an active role in their children's lives."

According to the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), an estimated 25 million children live without their biological fathers and are on average at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health and emotional and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse and to engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior and avoid high-risk behaviors.

"We consider it an honor to work on behalf of the NRFC," said Bill Ludwig, Vice Chairman, Chief Creative Officer of Campbell-Ewald. "We are very proud that our work informs so many American families about the impact of a father's presence in a child's life and has inspired fathers to simply spend time with their kids. Having the support of President Obama magnifies the attention and the inspiration of this critical message."

Since its launch in 2008, the NRFC's Father Involvement campaign has received more than $38 million in donated media across television, radio, out-of-home, Internet and print.

HHS

Through the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government supports responsible fatherhood in diverse ways. Because engaged fathers strengthen families and contribute to healthy outcomes for children, many of our programs integrate support for fathers. These include Head Start, child support programs, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. HHS also supports programs that focus on responsible fatherhood, such as the Promoting Responsible Fatherhood discretionary grant program administered by the Office of Family Assistance.

National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) is funded by Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Assistance's (OFA) efforts to assist States and communities to promote and support Responsible Fatherhood. Primarily a tool for professionals operating Responsible Fatherhood programs, the NRFC provides access to print and electronic publications, timely information on fatherhood issues, and targeted resources that support OFA-funded Responsible Fatherhood grantees. The NRFC Web site also provides essential information for other audiences interested in fatherhood issues. www.fatherhood.gov

Campbell-Ewald

Campbell-Ewald is the nation's eighth largest advertising and digital communications agency, with more than 1,300 employees and offices in Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York and Washington, D.C. A part of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) , Campbell-Ewald partners with a score of national brands, including Alltel Wireless, Carhartt, Chevrolet, Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Olympic Paints and Stains, OnStar, the United States Navy and the United States Postal Service. For more information on Campbell-Ewald, visit www.campbell-ewald.com.

The Advertising Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action, and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org.

Video: http://prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/38852

Source: The Ad Council

CONTACT: Beth Shanley of The Ad Council, +1-212-984-1923,
bshanley@adcouncil.org; or Vincent DiCaro, National Responsible Fatherhood
Clearinghouse, +1-240-912-1270, vdicaro@fatherhood.org; or Mark Benner of
Campbell-Ewald, +1-586-558-6281, mbenner@campbell-ewald.com

Web Site: The Ad Council

President George W. Bush's Daughter's Wedding

Yesterday, one of the First Daughters of America, Jenna Welch Bush had a simple wedding without much publicity. The hubby is Henry Chase Hager. He is a graduate student and son of a former Virginia lieutenant governor.

The White House confirmed that there were only 200 invited guests and close relatives. The Saturday evening wedding was at the family ranch in Crawford, Texas. There was a parade in honor of the couple and Saturday afternnon, the Hager family hosted a barbecue in the nearby town of Salado.

The wedding began at 7:30 p.m. There was a white limestone altar mounted near a man-made lake. Oscar de la Renta designed the wedding gown of beaded organza dress and Jenna's attendants wore cocktail dresses in the colours of wildflowers.

The following is the statement of President George W. Bush on his daughter's wedding and Mother's Day.

10 May 2008 11:00 Africa/Lagos


Radio Address by President Bush to the Nation

WASHINGTON, May 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of the radio address by President Bush to the nation:

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Today is my daughter Jenna's wedding day. This is a joyous occasion for our family, as we celebrate the happy life ahead of her and her husband Henry. It's also a special time for Laura, who this Mother's Day weekend will watch a young woman we raised together walk down the aisle.

Mother's Day is a special time for mothers all across America. On this holiday, we pause to celebrate the love and compassion of the women who have raised us, and to thank them for the many years of patience and selflessness. Throughout our lives, mothers are there with an encouraging word, a sympathetic ear, and a tender heart. They set our direction in life, and from time to time they have been known to correct our course.

Like many of you, my life has been blessed by a mother who is a source of unconditional love. Those of us who have been so fortunate are forever in debt to these caring women. So on this holiday weekend, we celebrate all those mothers who help make our country a better place.
On this Mother's Day weekend, we think of the mothers who are celebrating this holiday for the very first time. Few blessings can compare to starting a new family. And few bonds are stronger than those between a mother and her newborn baby. This is also a special time for new adoptive mothers, who have welcomed their children into their homes with open arms and an open heart. We wish all these new parents many happy Mother's Days to come.

On this Mother's Day weekend, we think of the many mothers who raised the brave men and women serving our country in uniform. And to those mothers, I offer the thanks of a grateful Nation. Your sons and daughters are defending our freedom with dignity and honor. And America appreciates the sacrifices that your families make in the name of duty.

On this Mother's Day weekend, we remember the mothers grieving a son or daughter lost in the service to their country, as well as the children who have lost a mother in uniform. We share their pride in these wonderful Americans who have given everything to protect our people from harm. Nothing we say can ever make up for their loss. But on this special day, we hold them in our hearts and we lift them in our prayers.

I wish every mother listening this morning a blessed Mother's Day, including my own. And I have a message for every son and daughter listening this morning: Remember to tell mom the first thing tomorrow how much you love her.

Thank you for listening.

Source: White House Press Office

CONTACT: White House Press Office, +1-202-456-2580

Web Site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/