‘Y’ To Celebrate Dads

By Lizzie Wilcox

info@longislandergroup.com

This Father’s Day, the Huntington YMCA invites all members to bring their dads as guests for full usage of the facility in celebration of the holiday that was first born at the Y.

The very first Father’s Day celebration took place at the YMCA in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910 before it was a nationally recognized holiday. The idea of Father’s Day originated from a Mother’s Day sermon when Sonora Louis Smart Dodd realized that her father, a single father of six, deserved to be honored.

The YMCA recognizes the positive influence that fathers and adult male role models alike have in children’s lives, and it is dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for fathers to get involved with their children’s well-being and development.

Anthony Montalbano, senior executive director of strategic advancement for the YMCA of Long Island, and interim executive director of the Huntington YMCA, acknowledged the importance of both fathers and Father’s Day.

“We celebrate dads on Father’s Day and we recognize how important it is for children to grow up with adult role models who are committed, responsible and involved,” Montalbano said. “Dads need support to be the best parents and caregivers they can be, and this holiday helps us to remind us of that.”

The Huntington YMCA, located at 60 Main St., offers many programs and classes that encourage parent-child bonding, such as Family Swim, Toddler Time and parent-child golf lessons.

For more information on the programs and activities available at the Huntington YMCA, visit Ymcali.org.