Father’s Day Pledge PA History
Father’s Day Pledge is a campaign inspired by work of Connect NYC. It began in 2014 as a partnership between FISA Foundation, The Heinz Endowments and Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and focused on raising awareness and inviting men to be part of prevention.
That year, Grant Oliphant, president of The Heinz Endowments, authored an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Step Up Fathers: All Men Must Help Stop Violence Against Women.
A full page ad ran in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that was signed by Mayor Bill Peduto, Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle, Governor Tom Corbett, and more than 40 local leaders.
2015
In 2015, a handful of pledge signing events took place across Pennsylvania, including the first Father’s Day Pledge Signing Ceremony at the Allegheny County Courthouse courtyard.
2016
In 2016, nearly 20 Father’s Day Pledge Signing activities took place in Southwestern PA alone and more across the state. Nearly 1,400 online pledge signatures were collected, far exceeding the goal of 1,000 signatures.
2017
In 2017, nearly 50 organizations across Southwestern PA participated in the Father’s Day Pledge, and more than 2,800 signed the Pledge online.
2018
In 2018, more than 30 organizations across Southwestern PA participated in the Father’s Day Pledge, and more than 3,300 signed the Pledge online. More than 40 Ernst & Young employees attended and many more signed the pledge online. Over 50 Koppers employees attended the pledge signing ceremony.