President Obama Promotes Fatherhood, Responsibility

June 19, 2009— -- President Barack Obama dedicated his entire afternoon today to promoting the importance of fatherhood and urging men to fulfill their responsibilities to their children, a topic that has great personal significance to him and one he has addressed forcefully in the past.

"Fatherhood also brings great responsibilities," he said in a proclamation today. "Fathers have an obligation to help rear the children they bring into the world. Children deserve this care, and families need each father's active participation."

Obama often speaks candidly about his own childhood growing up without his father, who left him and his mother when Obama was 2-years-old, and has issued strong words for men who do not live up to their responsibilities. A Father's Day speech last year sparked considerable debate because of his sharp criticism aimed at the African-American community.

The president took the time tp visit to Year Up, a local non-profit organization that helps young adults prepare for a professional career.

A the same time, several members of his staff fanned out across the city to partner with athletes and other celebrities to reach out to young boys through various local organizations.

Dwyane Wade of the NBA's Miami Heat, Antwan Randel El of the NFL's Washington Redskins, pro skateboarder Tony Hawk and Tony Award winning actor B.D. Wong took part in events around Washington to promote the president's message of responsibility.

Obama will later hold a town hall-style event in the White House, where he will lead a discussion about fatherhood and take questions from an audience of local fathers and young men. The event will feature five fathers discussing their own personal stories, including a military dad raising four children, including a set of triplets, and the founder of a national organization that promotes fatherhood and family programs.

The president and his guests will attend a barbecue on the White House South Lawn with celebrity chef Bobby Flay firing up the grill.