These Dads Are Doing It Right – Part 71 – Dads Who Are Making The Season Bright

This week’s for the Dads Doing It Right series I want to have some holiday magic with you. I wanted to highlight dads who are paying it forward this holiday season. They are showing their family and communities what this time of year is all about. So I wanted to showcase these dads helping others in need. If there are any other dads that you think we should check out leave their name and info in the comment section below. 

Johnny Bowden – Making The Season Bright 

Johnny Bowden is a security guard, but moonlights as one of Santa’s biggest helpers. “I was a fill-in one year and, after that, I ended up loving doing it,” he said. Over the past 10 years, Johnny has asked kids what they want and collected donations so he can step in when families need a little help. Bowden normally collects enough cash for 2,000-3,000 gifts. He’s lost count of how many gifts he has given away over the year. He raffles off one pile of big-ticket items to help raise money and donates gifts from another pile, along with the help of his two sons. Keep up the great work Johnny. 

Chris Jewell – Sharing The Magic Of The Season 

In the state of Maryland there is a holiday light experience that draws a crowd. It has over 8,000 pixels of lights and graphics. Chris and his son Jeremy Jewell are the ones behind the show. There is a huge tree with a two-foot star. It takes about 40 hours to program. Chris is a philanthropist as well. The show is free but he is collecting donations for the Abingdon Volunteer Fire department. Not only is he spreading holiday cheer, but helping raise money for a worthy cause. 

Tim Richardson – Making Sure Kids Get Presents This Holiday 

Tim Richardson founded the project, Adopt-A-Family program that helps children of incarcerated parents. It is run by the Urban Minority Alcohol Drug Abuse Outreach Program. Last year they served 75-78 kids. This year they currently have over 110 kids served. This year they added a partnership with the Welcome Home foundation. Now they can give those families food for the holidays. Nice work Tim. You definitely doing it right! 

John Tolley – Father Inspires Daughters To Keep Paying It Forward

Three sisters, inspired by their dad, started Be a Blessing Buffalo to help people in need feel loved throughout the holiday season. Be a Blessing Buffalo is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Buffalo, NY and is 100% donation based. Their mission is to bring gifts to families who have lost their jobs, are struggling to be able to provide for their family, fighting terminal illness, or have been affected by homelessness. These people are a part of their community, and they feel very strongly about coming together to help those who are in need. During the past two holiday seasons, they have had the opportunity to help over 650 children, and also 250 homeless men and women. Their organization was created in honor of their father, John Tolley, who passed unexpectedly in June of 2019. For them, their father always believed that as a society, we are losing the actual importance of the holiday season by focusing on only the commercial aspect of it all. I believe your dad is very happy with the great work you are doing.