Dade Middle School in Dallas, TX, decided to organize a "Breakfast With Dad" event for their male students, but were nervous not enough fathers would actually show up. So in an effort to boost the attendance rate, they put out a call for help on Facebook, asking for 50 men to come to the event as "stand-in" dads for students whose fathers couldn't make it or weren't present in their lives.
The school's request spread like wildfire -- which tends to happen with awesome things on social media -- so on the day of the event, more than 600 men from Northern Texas showed up to mentor these young men. The young boys left the event with life lessons, knowing how to tie a tie, and new friends and role models.
Rev. Donald Parish Jr. of True Lee Missionary Baptist Church told The Dallas News why it's so important for middle-school-age boys to participate in events like this. "When a young person sees someone other than their teacher take interest in them, it inspires them. That's what we want to see happen. These kids need all the support they can get to be successful."
These men may not have all been dads, but they've all shown themselves worthy of rocking one of those #1 Dad mugs. So high-fives all around to these awesome men who stepped up.