Visionaries and Advocates
Pennsylvania’s First Statewide Leadership Team of Fatherhood Responders
The Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr.; Mr. David A. Wyher; Dr. Joel N. Myers; and Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch are Commonwealth leaders in Pennsylvania who are recognized as the State’s “First Statewide Leadership Team of Fatherhood Responders” willing to bring to light something that has been in the dark, far too long, that is the Absence or Noninvolvement of too many fathers in the care of their children and families, and to shine a spotlight on the resulting consequences.
First Responders to the growing plight of Fathers and their Children
Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr.
Former Mayor of the City of Philadelphia
Pennsylvania (2012)
Dr. Goode, reminds us “…With the Continued Support from our State Government Leaders, Change Will Come, for our Children, their Families and the Communities in which they live.”
Thus, our vision for the future of Pennsylvania is that all its citizens can and will benefit from a conscious raising campaign regarding the importance of father involvement in the life of their children. In addition, more citizens of the Commonwealth will come to realize that all fathers, regardless of family heritage, race, ethnicity, income, education, health status, geographic location, and/or lifestyle, can in fact, do more to ensure the well-being of their children, families, and communities.
With the support of Pennsylvania’s State Government, Fathers who are fully included and actively participating in the parenting of their children of all ages will be the standard and will no longer be seen as an anomaly, as a result, Pennsylvania will become one of America’s most father-friendly states in the union.
Dr. Goode is recognized throughout the Fatherhood Movement in Pennsylvania as Chair Emeritus of the Symposium Organizing Committee (SOC), which sponsored statewide conferences across Pennsylvania seven years in a role educating the public on Child Well-Being in Pennsylvania and the Urgent Need for Father Involvement.
In Remembrance of David A Wyher
January 17, 1949 – November 30, 2022
(2014)
David A. Wyher
former President and CEO
Delta Community Supports, Inc.
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
David served as Vice Chair of the SOC. His term as President of the SOC would have begun in January 2023. David was a kind man, with a sharp wit: a patient father, a loving husband; a wise advisor, a trusted friend, and a devoted servant of God. He shared a collective vision with The Strong Families Commission’s Community of Advocates regarding the future of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Joel N. Myers
Centre County, Pennsylvania
(2019)
An American businessman who is the founder and executive chairman of AccuWeather, an American commercial weather service and media company, and Founder and Chair of the Dad’s Resource Center in State College, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Myers served as one of the three Fatherhood Giants who led the Pennsylvania Greater Father Family Involvement Campaign (PAGFFIC) that encouraged the passing of Pennsylvania House Bill, 1731, Printer’s Number 2953, that called for a historic Fatherhood Advisory Committee in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Myers served as Campaign Chair (2019-2022). He continues to give speeches and lectures across the state, regarding the importance of fathers in the lives of children.
Pennsylvania’s Visionaries and Advocates for greater father family involvement
Senator Anthony Hardy Williams
8th Senatorial District
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
September 14, 2017
To the Attendees of the Strong Families Commission Symposium:
I am proud to support a bipartisan and bicameral initiative that focuses on “Child Well-Being in Pennsylvania and the Urgent Need for Father Involvement.” The strength of our society is rooted in the family structure, which is becoming increasingly more complex. I believe that all public officials have a responsibility to support the vital role of all parents, including fathers, in the development of our most valuable assets — our children.
I am eager to review the comprehensive report of today’s proceedings and look forward to the commission’s recommendations regarding potential remedies to these important issues. I applaud the efforts of The Strong Families Commission and its partners in bringing together some of the state’s most knowledgeable and experienced professionals to highlight the importance of paternal participation in the lives of our children. I thank you all for coming and ask that all attendees continue to support this initiative as we move toward a statewide conversation to address these topics.
Sincerely,
Anthony Hardy Williams, PA Senate —
Senator Williams, while serving in the Pennsylvania Senate, has spent a great deal of his time during the last eight years advocating for greater father involvement in the lives of children, caregivers of children, and the community spaces in which children learn to adapt to the outside world. He remains an advocate promoting greater father family involvement throughout Pennsylvania.
Mike Turzai (First Among Equals)
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
(2019)
Michael Coyne Turzai, former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2015-2020, when informed about the Pennsylvania Greater Father Family Involvement Campaign (PAGFFIC), he said the unspeakable – “…It is about time.”
This sense of support from the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives gave the statewide fatherhood campaign the courage to continue moving forward and establishing PAGFFIC’s foundational goals that guided and leads us to this day, conducting the work of The Strong Families Commission.
The campaign goals were and continue to be the following:
1) Raise the consciousness of all Pennsylvanians that fathers can make tremendous contributions to the well-being of children and families.
2) Educate and urge each branch of Pennsylvania’s state government to adopt and institutionalize a father inclusive posture, toward men within families; and to support the active participation of fathers in Commonwealth child and family programming; and,
3) Convince the Pennsylvania General Assembly to establish by statue a Permanent Pennsylvania Commission that promotes great father family involvement in the lives of children and family connections, and the removal of state systematic impediments that work against greater father-child and family involvement.
Representative Lori A. Mizgorski
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
(2020)
Lori A. Mizgorski, serving the 30 th Legislative District in Western Pennsylvania, has agreed to introduce our bill in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The details of which have not been completely worked out; however, we have waited so long for the right person to come along that can represent our inclusive posture on families and family relationships that I could not help but want to share the good news right away.
Representative Mizgorski is known for her bi-partisan record of accomplishments that has included protecting families as well as taxpayers. As a mother of three, wife and former local Township Commissioner for over nine years, she understands the challenges that the voiceless face, and that state government leaders must work on behalf of all fathers and families throughout the Commonwealth.
Representative Mizgorski spent three years (2020-2022) working on getting legislation passed that established the creation of the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement, as well as defining the public policy of the Commonwealth to end institutional barriers that may impede fathers in fostering supportive connections with their children, establish support mechanisms to enhance the ability of fathers to assume a beneficial parenting role and assist men in preparing for the legal, financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.
Thanks to Representative Mizgorski’ s stick-to-itiveness, the above policy which did not exist before 2022, does exist today, allowing citizens across the Commonwealth, particularly fathers, to begin to have once again faith in its government’s willingness to work on behalf of not only what is in the best interest of the child,” but family stability as well, including fathers.
Senator Jacob Doyle Corman, III
President Pro Tempore
Pennsylvania State Senate
Centre County, Pennsylvania
(2021)
Dear Friends of The Strong Families Commission:
Thank you for inviting me to be part of this year’s Symposium titled, “Understanding Pennsylvania’s Child Support Services and Program Initiatives.” I am pleased to have the opportunity to offer my personal thoughts on the importance of fathers in the life of children, families and communities.
I am a proud father to three amazing (almost grown) kids. In August, I sent my oldest child off to college and spent quite some time reflecting on how fast the years have gone. I am so incredibly proud of each of my children and being their dad has been the greatest joy of my life.
I was fortunate to have had an involved father that took an interest in my academics, hobbies and well-being. My father helped to shape my confidence, self-worth and values and I was able to draw from that example when raising my own children.
I wholeheartedly applaud The Strong Families Commission for their advocacy on behalf of children, fathers and families in the Commonwealth.
The knowledge and expertise that will be shared via this platform is helping to give families building blocks for a strong foundation. There is no doubt that involved fathers make families better. I wish you much success in your event.
Sincerely,
Jake Corman, President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
Bryan Dean Cutler
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Former Speaker of the Pennsylvania
House of Representatives
A Man of His Word (2021)
Former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, State Representative Bryan Dean Cutler, is known among men and women across Pennsylvania for his word, especially those who are fathers. I met Speaker Cutler in January 2021, and he committed to support legislation to establish a Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement. He never withdrew his word.
As a consequence, The Strong Families Commission, Incorporated (THE COMMISSION), was able to continue its work and experienced success in its efforts to get the Pennsylvania General Assembly to establish by statue a Pennsylvania Commission that promotes greater father family involvement in the lives of children, and family connections, and the removal of state systematic impediments that work against greater father-child and family involvement. In addition, THE COMMISSION was able to establish an open-door policy with the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission as allies instead of advisories, which reported as its first recommendation that there be established a permanent Commission on greater fatherhood involvement.
As THE COMMISSION continues the work needed in Phase III of the Pennsylvania Greater Father Family Involvement Campaign, we look forward to having the support and influence of Representative Cutler, as we attempt to bring the campaign for a permanent fatherhood commission to closure before the end of the 2025- 2026 legislative Session.