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Dungy Expands Program For Dads

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By NEIL JOHNSON

njohnson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 20, 2009

TAMPA - Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy on Wednesday launched an expansion of All Pro Dad from the National Football League into the ranks of college football.

Dungy helped found All Pro Dad in 1997, using the celebrity power of NFL players to help men become better fathers and role models. Now, working with University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt, the program will move into college football.

Dungy said he hopes involving college coaches and players will bring a new audience. "Until now we've really focused on professional teams, Major League Baseball, the National Football League," Dungy said. "But we really realized that there's another element out there."

Using the popularity of college football to push the program's message could reach two groups, he said.

"There's the college football fan, No. 1, but also there's these players, these student athletes, and we're realizing more 19-, 20-, 21-year-olds are having families, having children, and providing the parenting tips for them is very, very important," Dungy said at a kickoff announcement.

There are 44 current and former NFL players and coaches involved with All Pro Dad. It is part of Tampa-based Family First, a nonprofit organization that stresses making families the top priority in people's lives.

Part of the All Pro Dad program offers fathering assistance, including a daily e-mail with information covering topics from marriage to raising teenagers. George Woods, the program's marketing director, said 42,000 men receive the e-mail daily.

There also is a monthly breakfast at local restaurants for fathers and children.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731.

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