After a competition in multiple cities in Hampton Roads VA from January through March 2023, our campaign to identify, acknowledge, and reward the ‘most deserving father,’ culminated on June 17, Father’s Day Weekend, with Mr. Darrell Upshaw being selected, rewarded, and celebrated as Fathers Incorporated’s Father of the Year – 2023!! Several deserving fathers were nominated. However, like with any competition, there can be only one winner and by virtue of his receiving the highest overall rated score among of the nominees, Mr. Upshaw was selected as the ‘Most Deserving Father.’
It goes without saying that most fathers, doing what’s right and good, don’t want a ‘pat on the back’ or any other form of adulation; they simply prefer to go about what God requires of them as a gift and blessing without fanfare. This is truly the case with our humble and ‘most deserving father.’
Darrell Upshaw was nominated by his remarkable and dedicated bride, Lakel, who was acknowledged and rewarded for her outstanding commitment to the concept of family and community.
Mr. Upshaw reluctantly but graciously accepted his selection and signed on to be a role model for other fathers, men, and boys by exemplifying the benevolent values of Fathers Incorporated: Brotherhood, Manhood, Fatherhood, and Gentlemanship.
Our celebration with Mr. Upshaw and his family was everything we gave to our 2022 Father of the Year and more. He and his family were treated to a full course meal with all the trimmings: a cash award, vacation at a Florida Resort and Spa, keynote speakers, memorable gifts, encouraging and inspiring songs by a godly composer, and the cheers and compliments of over 70 guests and the officers and board members of Fathers Incorporated – some members and guests traveled as far away as from Mississippi, Maryland, and Washington DC to attend the celebration.
In accepting the award, Mr. Upshaw acknowledged and thanked his bride for nominating him and thanked those in attendance and Fathers Incorporated for making his day a lifetime memory. While he did not seek the award; spotlight or notoriety, every moment and conversation we had with him reminded us why he was nominated and selected Father of the Year – 2023. He is not only the ‘most deserving father,’ he is also an exceptional human being.
During his remarks, the keynote speaker, Bishop Bill Burrell, President of the Tuskegee Air Association of Hampton Roads VA, commented on the important role fathers play in the lives of their children and the viability of their communities. He challenged the fathers in attendance to practice 6 actions to strengthen their bond with their children and improve their relationship as a family.
Preceding Bishop Burrell was Ms. Sheila Hawkins, President and CEO of Out of Harm’s Way (OHW), a Hampton VA based nonprofit that offers assistance to abused women and those caught in the mist of sex-trafficking. Ms. Hawkins spoke about the impact of not having her father present in her life and how that perilous journey led her to establish (OHW).
From all accounts, the award celebration was an emotional, spirited, uplifting, and joyous experience for all.
We thank Toni Jones of Norfolk State University Radio, Norfolk VA and Leonard Colvin, Chief Reporter/Editor, of the New Journal and Guide, Norfolk VA for helping us get-the-word-out about the award program through Public Service Announcements and newspaper articles. We thank individuals like Dr. Valarie Parker whose advice and guidance were invaluable; Cynthia Alston, who handed out over 150 flyers and/or verbalized news of the award during her daily activities to her friends, family members, strangers, and passersby; Heywood Davis, David Sheppard, Sheryl Mann, and Ramona Sullivan-Mann for opening doors that allowed our outreach efforts to be heard.
We also thank Gloria Sawyers for her hard and diligent efforts behind the scenes during the outreach campaign and award ceremony. Our volunteers and the Officers and Board members of Fathers Incorporated must be acknowledged for their relentless commitment to assuring the success of our vision and mission. We especially thank Dr. Lawler for his outstanding effort in officiating the award ceremony; Dr. Kim Harris Cobb and Auburn Mann for their assistance in presenting the awards; and James Lovett, Jr., for being our local representative in Hampton Roads VA.
We give special thanks to our sponsors and donors for without their support the Father of the Year Award Program may not be possible. Lastly, but above all, we thank God for giving us the vision and proving each and every resource necessary to ensure the program’s success.