Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

TOMMY G. THOMPSON Governor State of Wisconsin

For Immediate Release – Feb. 11, 1999
Contact: Darrin Schmitz (608) 266-9806 or Gene Kussart at (608) 261-4576
 

MADISON -- Gov. Tommy G. Thompson today announced a Fatherhood Summit that will bring together Wisconsin community organizations and national leaders to promote the need for involved, active fathers. The summit will be held May 10 at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.

Gov. Thompson said various Wisconsin organizations -- including schools, churches, businesses, labor, and family resource centers -- will then return to their communities and decide how best to convey the message that fathers are important for strong families.

"I am confident that this summit will produce an aggressive public education campaign highlighting the importance of fathers to children and communities," Gov. Thompson said. "The result will be an increase in the number of loving, committed and responsible fathers nurturing stronger children."

Gov. Thompson said that these community organizations will be given the tools needed to create public awareness programs. Gov. Thompson’s budget provides $150,000 for local public awareness campaigns.

"I have earmarked grant money in my next state budget that will help these groups get out informational material to men seeking to become more effective fathers," Gov. Thompson said. "The result will be stronger families, increased parental responsibility and healthier children."

Speaking at the Fatherhood Summit with Gov. Thompson will be Sal Bando, Milwaukee Brewers general manager and chair of the Wisconsin Fatherhood Institute; Congressman Clay Shaw, R-Florida; Dick Bennett, UW-Madison men’s basketball coach; Dr. Wade Horn, President, National Fatherhood Institute; Eloise Anderson, Claremont Institute; Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, author; Dr. Ron Mincy, Senior Program Officer for Employment and Welfare, Ford Foundation; Jerry Hamilton, Goodwill Industries of Southeast Wisconsin; Jay Hein, Hudson Institute; Joe Leean, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Services; and Linda Stewart, Secretary, Department of Workforce Development.