(MEMPHIS, TN – June 12, 2023) Families Matter, Inc. is partnering with Mt. Vernon Baptist Church to host The Fatherhood Walk on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, located at 620 Parkrose Avenue, Memphis, TN 38109.
On-site registration is free and will begin at 9:00 a.m. The walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. and there will be food and fellowship from 10:45 a.m. to noon immediately after the walk.
“We are excited to partner with Mt. Vernon Baptist Church as we celebrate fathers in our community,” said Carol Jackson, Executive Director of Families Matter, Inc. “The purpose of this walk is to promote fatherhood, the importance of families, and peace, love, unity, and non-violence in my community.”
Several community vendors will be on-site to provide resources for our attendees. Memphis Police Department will provide free gun locks, Baptist Memorial Hospital and Health Care Services will provide free blood pressure screenings, and the RISE Foundation will provide financial literacy resources.
Representatives from Families Matter’s pilot program, A Father’s Involvement Really Matters (AFIRM), will also be in attendance to help attendees register for the program. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ Tennessee Opportunity Act, AFIRM is designed to assist low-income fathers, ages 18–40 in Memphis and Shelby County, by connecting them to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or assistance with a recent child support order.
“Fathers are the backbone of families and our community and we must do all we can to show our appreciation to them,” said Melvin Watkins, Senior Pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. “We are thrilled and appreciative of this great partnership with Families Matter, Inc. as we celebrate fathers in Memphis and Shelby County.
For more information or if you would like to interview someone about the walk, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.
About Families Matter, Inc.
Founded in 2004, Families Matter, Inc. is a non-profit organization and resource center that serves families via schools, churches, hospitals, and a variety of community partners to educate, enhance, and encourage our clients to become their best selves. Their educational offerings include workshops for couples and single parents and offerings for youth and a parenting boot camp for new dads. They also can connect individuals and couples to counseling services around their area. To learn more about Families Matter, Inc., visit www.familiesmattermemphis.org.