Fame Fathers to welcome students at H.H. Beam again

For the second straight August, students at Gastonia's H.H. Beam Elementary will be greeted by dozens of men wishing them success for the starting school year.

The enthusiastic welcome is the brainchild of John McCullough. The Friendship Christian Church bishop started a local chapter of the Ohio-based Fame Fathers, an initiative to get fathers involved in children's life last year, and thus far he says the group has been a success.

"It was very meaningful last year to see the parents bringing the children in and the kids were very enthused about the first day," McCullough said. "I think it had a great impact. Some of us followed up by becoming mentors at the school."

The first day welcome last year inspired McCullough to double the group's efforts in 2019. Not only will they stand outside Beam on Monday morning, but members of the group will also gather at Ridgeview Charter School, which will open at the site of McCullough's church.

McCulough says the gathering reinforces to the children that men can take interest in their education. Many of them rarely see men in school, he said.

As many as 50 people have showed up to monthly Fame Fathers meetings at the church, and McCullough says many in the group plan to provide mentorship throughout the school year.

"We want to follow up that process, get some of the men spending 30 minutes, 45 minutes maybe once a week with the students," McCullough said.

Men in the group are taught basic tasks for raising children. Anyone interested in getting involved with the group can do so by texting their name to 704-288-5493.

You can reach Adam Lawson at 704-869-1842 or on Twitter @GazetteLawson.