Local Dads To Be Honored, Just In Time For Father’s Day

Princeton, NJ—The Father Center of New Jersey is set to honor fourteen local dads with their annual Platinum Dads Awards Celebration to take place this coming week on June 18th, one day before Father’s Day. “A wide array of fathers will take the stage and accept their award and we are thrilled to make sure the extraordinary fathers in our community are recognized for their dedication to family and community,” stated Karen Andrade-Mims, the CEO of The Father Center of New Jersey.

Some of the honorees are unsung heroes and serve the community as father figures. This event, in its’ seventeenth year, brings to light the good deeds of these men as a way to inspire all of us to be our best selves. Hal English, currently the President and CEO of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce and a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program will be recognized.

Additionally, Congressman Andy Kim representing the Third Congressional District of New Jersey who has dedicated his life to serving our country is also an honoree. Congressman Kim worked as a career public servant under both Democrats and Republicans, having served at USAID, the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House National Security Council, and in Afghanistan as an advisor to Generals Petraeus and Allen.

Another Platinum Dad Honoree, Dr. Joseph Youngblood II, is the Senior Vice President for External Affairs at Kean University. His career has long involved work in public education, law, and public policy, including serving as Policy Advisor to the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association. Dr. Youngblood earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Next Generation Leadership Fellowship.

Bill McCusker will give the keynote address during the breakfast ceremony. For more than thirty years, Bill McCusker has worked in the business world where he has held leadership roles, often with global responsibility in large professional service firms. He and his wife Tracye taught school as U.S. Peace Corps volunteers on an outer island in Fiji for three years. Bill was born and raised in New Jersey where he still lives with his wife and their two daughters, Kelly and Mary. Author of “Fatherhood: In Pieces,” Mr. McCusker has offered valuable advice on roles for fathers, values, disciplines, wives and mothers, expectations for your children, and other layers and meanings of fatherhood.

Brand and Culture Expert Mark Iorio will aptly fill the role of Master of Ceremonies. Mr. Iorio is a Television Host on RVNTV, the Founder of The Mega Group, and a Managing Partner at BCAT Partners, LLC.

The Father Center offers fathers the emotional, social, and economic resources to improve their lives and those of their children. From stress management training and anger management programs to adult computer classes, the organization supports fathers in gaining the life skills to be there for their families. Karen stated, “At The Father Center of NJ, we believe that when fathers are empowered to be good parents, the entire community benefits.”

On June 18th, the Saturday before this year’s Father’s Day, The Father Center of New Jersey will host their annual Platinum Dads awards breakfast. Tickets are still available to attend this “feel good” event of the summer!

Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/276777518007 to purchase your tickets.