Volunteer Spotlight: Dads’ Club

The recently established (August 2022) Parish Dads’ Club, a branch of Parents’ Association (PA), is a place where dads – both current and alumni dads – can invest their time and talent in support of their children and their school community. Intended as a complement to the efforts of the PA, the Dads’ Club was formed to develop a network of Parish fathers that could be called upon to support various school organizations and events (pie in the face booth at Spooky Saturday), needs of the School (putting up Christmas lights, driving golf carts for events), miscellaneous projects (Creek cleanup at the Midway campus) and, of course, there’s the fellowship (barbeques, campouts)!

Parish dads, Greg Porray (Ellie ’23) and BJ Antweil (Olivia ’32), put the wheels in motion this past summer by gathering a small group of dads to help lead the charge and sustain the club long after their daughters graduate (nearly a decade apart).

“Those early meetings were with dads whom we can count on to raise hands to volunteer to lead projects, take leadership roles, or know of other guys in their grades who will be up for those things,” recalled Porray. “Our goal is for the dads to own this group, foster an eagerness to volunteer, lead groups of dads to fulfill other school groups’ needs, help with school projects and be available with groups of volunteers . . . with a heavy dose of fellowship thrown in. Something I think Parish dads have needed.”

Dads’ Club made their debut at the annual Panther Nation Block Party in August. Since then, the member list has grown to more than 130 members. At its first, official meeting in September, the new members established their first leadership committee, including inaugural President Chip Duffie (Kate ’25 and Emma ’27). The group has been meeting every month, enjoying barbeque and fellowship as they continue to plan and look for ways to best serve the School.

“I am really excited about the potential for Dads’ Club to become a meaningful, sustainable part of Parish’s growth,” said Duffie. “The fact that our membership represents essentially all the grades and divisions says a lot about our ability to build a long-term partnership with the School.”

Duffie also pointed out that dads are meeting dads from other divisions that they would likely have never met, much less hung out with, except for Dads’ Club. The group is supporting the School while creating an environment where dads can meet, network and enjoy getting to know each other.

“Simply put, Dads’ Club is fun,” emphasized Duffie. “We do not take ourselves too seriously, but we can really help the School with meaningful, repeatable service and support.”

The Club’s goal moving through year one and beyond is to really establish their identity. What do they do? What do they stand for? What can they be counted on to do every year?

Dads’ Club mission is clear – it is a volunteer and fellowship organization. It is not a fundraising organization; it exists to support Parish and the already established fundraising efforts and organizations within the School (i.e. Parents’ Association, Booster Clubs).

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