Roll With Us: 60+ Community Members Come Together to Support Local Youth
More than 60 people joined the Center for Fatherless Youth Development for an afternoon that raised over $1,000 to support local youth. But some of the most meaningful moments had nothing to do with the amount raised.
Our Roll With Us Community Skate Fundraiser brought youth, families, friends, and supporters together for an afternoon filled with skating, games, competitions, raffles, giveaways, laughter, and meaningful conversation.
From the beginning, we wanted this event to feel different. We wanted young people to have fun, but we also wanted to create space for honest conversations about fatherhood, family, and the experiences of young people being raised without fathers.
And that is exactly what happened.
A Conversation We Won't Forget
One of the most powerful moments of the afternoon came when a teenage boy shared what having his father present in his life has meant to him.
In front of his peers and members of the community, he spoke openly about the many ways his father has influenced him, the lessons he has been taught, and how thankful he is to continue having his father's guidance in his life.
There were tears in the room.
It was a simple but powerful reminder of why the presence of caring, consistent adults matters so much in the development of a young person.
The conversation also created an opportunity for youth to talk with one another about fatherlessness and their own experiences. Seeing young people listen, connect, laugh, encourage one another, and engage in conversations that are not always easy to have was one of the most meaningful parts of the day.
One Young Girl Turned Her Birthday Into an Opportunity to Give
Another special part of the fundraiser came from one of our youngest supporters.
A 10-year-old girl chose to celebrate her birthday at the skating rink while raising money for local youth being raised without fathers. Instead of making the day only about herself, she invited her family and friends to join her in supporting the cause.
Together, they raised more than $300.
Her decision was a beautiful example of something we want young people to understand early: you do not have to wait until adulthood to make a difference in someone else's life.
And We Had Plenty of Fun
The afternoon wasn't all serious conversation.
Our guests enjoyed skating games, competitions, raffles, giveaways, music, and plenty of time on the rink. We even had a special skating dance competition featuring the skating rink owner that brought even more energy to the afternoon.
With more than 60 people in attendance, the rink was filled with a wonderful mix of children, teenagers, adults, and families simply enjoying time together.
By the end of the event, our community had helped raise more than $1,000 to support the work of the Center for Fatherless Youth Development.
More Than a Fundraiser
Roll With Us showed us what can happen when fundraising becomes an opportunity for community building.
Yes, we raised money. But we also watched young people build relationships. We heard an important perspective from a teenager. We watched a 10-year-old use her birthday to serve other children. Families spent time together. New people learned about our mission. And our community had an opportunity to talk about why supporting young people affected by fatherlessness matters.
Those moments are just as important to us as the dollars raised.
To every person who attended, donated, volunteered, participated, celebrated, shared their story, or simply showed up: thank you for rolling with us.
The skating may have stopped at the end of the afternoon, but the work continues.
Interested in being part of what comes next? Learn more about our programs, volunteer, partner with us, or support the Center for Fatherless Youth Development through our Get Involved page.
