For Immediate Release

August 19, 2008

The “Me and My Dad” program, run by the Jewish Community Center of Chicago (JCC) since 1979, has brought together hundreds of fathers and their children through organized participation in age-appropriate, father-and-child group settings.

The relationship between father and child is strengthened through their involvement in creative and meaningful experiences offered in the Me and My Dad program.

“The program gave me an opportunity to spend time with each of my children at an individual time every month and develop a group of friends,” said Wayne Silverman. Silverman has participated in the program for seventeen years, with his four children. “It’s one of those things I wouldn’t have traded for anything.”

Groups begin by meeting at each others’ homes once a month for about an hour. Fathers and their child are divided into groups of about 8-12 father and child units, grouped by age and gender. They determine a meeting schedule for their group, and each month’s “host” father and child plan an activity and provide a kosher snack. The groups also receive copies of the “Me and My Dad Survival Guide” and a craft box. JCC liaisons, who are program professionals and/or teachers, provide suggestions and program ideas, guidance, and assistance at meetings. They also keep participants informed about upcoming JCC or Me and My Dad events.

“Having the structure, having someone say when it was time to meet, makes it easier to keep going,” said Joel Manning, a twelve-year “Me and My Dad” veteran.

The groups engage in a variety of activities, such as special outings, playing sports, celebrating Jewish holidays, creating craft projects, and overnighters. They also emphasize the importance of tzedakah (doing good deeds), such as adopting a family in need during the holidays or playing bingo with seniors at a retirement home.

“What I love most about the program is that my daughter and son made friends in the program with whom they remain close years later,” said Manning, whose daughter, Shana, remains friends with her old group members even as she is going off to college.

It is common for groups of fathers and their children to stay together for several years, the children growing up together and the parents developing into family friends. It is not unusual to see Me and My Dad t-shirts in photos of Bar and Bat mitzvahs, and Me and My Dad duffle bags at children’s sporting events.

Silverman’s second-oldest daughter, Samara, is a sophomore in college. Her group of fathers and daughters stayed together in the Me and My Dad program for six years. “They’re all in college now, and they keep in touch. And the parents are still good friends,” said Silverman.

Me and My Dad is for children entering kindergarten through second grade in the fall and their fathers. The program starts in September and parents can select a group on their own or they can choose to be placed in a group that is geographically desirable and age appropriate. The cost is $112.27 for JCC members and $153.47 for non-members.

For families new to the program, there will be an Information Night on September 8 at 7:30 pm and an Orientation Night on September 22 at 7:30 pm, for dads only. New participants must attend both programs. These meetings will be held at the same time at two locations, Bernard Weinger JCC, 300 Revere Drive, Northbrook and Jacob Duman JCC, 370 Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove.

For more information, please contact Debbie Meyer at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 847.955.7760.

Media Contact:

Rachel Ritter
847.763.3661
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