Happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers!

It’s a day to celebrate you and all that you do for your families. As a father to two grown daughters and a grandfather to five of the smartest and most beautiful grandchildren, I’m grateful for the joy they bring to my life.

I’m also thankful for having a father who loved and cared for me and my two siblings. My dad passed away in 2013, and I still miss him every day. He had a tremendous influence on the man that I am today. I wish you could’ve known him.

My dad was quiet, yet when he spoke, we listened. He didn’t have much of a formal education, having to drop out of school to work to help his family, but he had the most common sense of any man that I know.

Dad was a hard worker; working two jobs for most of my childhood, yet somehow he always managed to attend all of our school games or whatever we were involved in. I still don’t know how he did that.

This week, I read several studies of the statistical differences good dads make in a child’s life, from increasing the probability of acquiring a college degree to less likely to engage in delinquent behavior to less chances of dealing with depression.

At CCA recently, Harold, a single dad of two young daughters and a son came to our office, requesting help for rent. He was unable to work due to hip replacement surgery. By the time he came to us, he had sold everything in the house to pay the rent, but he was still falling behind.

Harold mentioned to us how hard it was for him to raise his children by himself. Our staff made sure we were able to assist him with his rent and even signed the children up to receive back-to-school supplies later this summer. The staff member prayed with him, for his health and for his children.

Your financial support makes it possible for single dads like Harold and their children to remain in their homes.

I know that not all of us had the blessing of a good father, but there is a perfect Father available to all of us. He is “the father of the fatherless and protector of the widows” (Psalms 68:5) and he adopts as us his very own (Romans 8:15).

The Psalms tell us that his love and patience never run out (Psalm 103 and 106). Hebrews 4 says we can “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace.”

I’m thankful for this perfect Father that loves us.

Happy Father’s Day!

Gilbert Montez
President and CEO