Woodland superintendent Ryan McGuckin named father of the year after daughter's essay

Woodland Superintendent Ryan McGuckin is one of 12 father of the year finalists in Illinois, thanks to a heartfelt essay from his third grade daughter Lanie.

Each year for the past 23 years, the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative has sponsored an essay contest on the topic, “what my father means to me.”

During that time, nearly a half million essays have been submitted by Illinois schoolchildren, read by thousands of volunteers. These essays capture the poignant stories of fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and father-figures who are positively affecting the next generation – one life at a time.

This year, 2,300 Illinois school children wrote stories about the men who influence them. More than 300 volunteers virtually stepped up to narrow those heartfelt submissions to 12 father-of-the-year finalists.

Lanie wrote of her father "he never doesn't love me. He always loves me."

“We dads have an obligation to make an impact in our children’s lives; to feed off the many teachable moments going on around us to give needed guidance and hope.” said father of the Year Ryan McGuckin in a statement. “No matter the person, place, or idea, Lanie will continue to be taught manners towards similar and different viewpoints and backgrounds with an emphasis on coexisting.“

The country’s first statewide nonprofit fatherhood organization, the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative has a mission of connecting children and fathers by actively engaging fathers in the education of their children.

The initiative was established in 1997 to address the increasing problem of father absence in society.

The Census Bureau indicates that 19.7 million children are growing up in homes without fathers. Furthermore, children from fatherless homes are four times more likely to grow up in poverty and twice as likely to drop out of high school. These children are also more likely to die by suicide, run away, have behavioral disorders, abuse drugs and alcohol, commit crimes and end up in prison, according to the IFI.

For more information on the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, contact Scot Marcotte at 773-425-7987.