A FATHER’S DAY IMPACT

Towards the end of last year, I watched CNN’s Black In America 2 on television. There were many stories about African Americans making a difference in their community.  One such story was the work that Entertainer, Comedian & Author Steve Harvey does to reach and mentor 100 minority boys during the Father’s Day weekend. (These boys are raised by their mothers in single-parent households.)  As I watched and listened, I asked, “How can I make a difference in the lives of African American adolescent boys? How can I help ensure that they grow up to be productive members of society—men who make a positive impact on their families, community and the world?” My answer came in the realization that the teen fiction novel I had just written, Speedsuit Powers, could play a role in providing a solution. In it, both the protagonist and antagonist are fatherless - but for very different reasons - and are struggling to find their place in the world.

HAPPY FATHERLESS DAY…

Fatherlessness is a grim reality for many young people across America.  According to the article entitled, “Fatherless Day” from the May/June issue of Relevant Magazine, “Children without fathers are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime, nine times more likely to drop out of schools and 20 times more likely to end up in prison…  An estimated one out of three American households with children are single-parent, and usually mother-only, homes. That’s an estimated 25 million fatherless kids…    The epidemic of fatherlessness causes a strain on young lives and leaves many young men with the burden of trying to figure out how to be a good man without any solid examples to look to” (p 75).

Father’s Day is fast approaching and for many young boys it’s a reminder that they are fatherless. But with your participation, we can take action to help counteract this negative reality.  Speedsuit Powers is helping adolescent youth and their parents.  As a result, the Speedsuit Powers Book Gifting Program has been created. This program, through sponsors who purchase copies to be gifted, serves as a way to get Speedsuit Powers into the hands of at-risk youth who would not be able (or willing) to purchase the book on their own.

A BOOK AND A DREAM…

With the help of several sponsors, a limited number of gifted Speedsuit Powers books have been made available for a Father’s Day Special.  If you know an African American boy (age 11-18) who is without a father, you can have a gifted copy of Speedsuit Powers mailed to him at no cost to you.  This will let him know that even though his father is not around, his life is still important and valued by others.  It is our hope that Speedsuit Powers will help inspire, motivate and educate African American boys towards their God-given dreams.

To have a gifted copy of Speedsuit Powers mailed out to the young man you have in mind; go to www.speedsuitpowers.com. Click on the Book Gifting page and enter the following information: (In the first two boxes) enter your name and email. (And in the large comment box) enter your contact information,  the young man’s name, age, grade and mailing address.

PLEASE LIMIT ONE COPY PER HOUSEHOLD. OFFER ENDS SUNDAY JUNE 13th. GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. USA ONLY.

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