Fatherhood Educational Institute Founder Jeffery M. Leving Receives Message From President Obama

CHICAGO, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fatherhood Educational Institute (FEI), founder Jeffery M. Leving, recently reinforced his support for President Obama's national call for mentors after he received a personal message from the president.

"I'm only here because someone took a chance on me, and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. And, I want to give more kids that chance," President Obama wrote to Leving explaining why he launched the My Brother's Keeper initiative earlier this year.

Attorney Leving said he supports Obama's initiative to help empower boys and young men of color -- with one caveat.

"We need men to step up to mentor young men because a boy can't be what he can't see," said Leving, whose most recent book How to be a Good Divorced Dad, was endorsed by Obama.

Chicago's FEI, a non-profit founded by fathers' rights Attorney Leving, shares and supports the critical goal of promoting positive fatherhood involvement in poverty stricken communities, and reducing the incidence of father absence. Leving's research reveals the startling facts of father absence. In America, 24.7 million children (33%) live in biological father absent homes. Additionally, 20.3 million children live with no father (biological, adoptive or step) in the home.

Attorney Leving said numerous demographic studies show children raised in families without fathers are at an extremely increased risk of living and growing up in poverty. Further, the most reliable predictor of crime in America is father absence. Alternatively, children with an involved father have increased self-esteem, do better in school and are less likely to engage in criminal activity or drug use.

Get involved today by becoming an FEI mentor. Call the office or visit the website today (312) 795-9060 or fatherhood-edu.org

About the Fatherhood Educational Institute
The Fatherhood Educational Institute is a tax exempt 501 (c)(3) organization of the Internal Revenue Code. The vision of the Fatherhood Educational Institute is to promote positive fatherhood involvement in all communities.

Contact: Zion Banks
312.508.1404
630.842.6427

SOURCE Fatherhood Educational Institute