[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             REAL MEN COOK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2011

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Sunday, Father's Day, June 19, 
2011, Real Men Cook was once again presented by the nonprofit, Real Men 
Charities, Inc. for the 22nd consecutive year. Real Men Cook is the 
largest national service day event on Father's Day in the United 
States, demonstrating that real men are nurturing: providing 
sustenance, care, love, and work to build healthy families and 
communities.
  It all began when Kofi Moyo and Yvette Moyo were joined by 10 women 
and 100 men in 1989 to create a commonsense way to increase male 
involvement, and to celebrate and demonstrate the rewards of family and 
community service.
  Real Men Cook family celebrations are the nation's longest-running 
urban Father's Day family event, featuring male volunteers from 
neighborhoods in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, 
Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, 
raising funds, and devoting time and resources to cook and serve 
samples of their favorite dishes to help nonprofit organizations.
  Real Men Cook has transformed Father's Day globally into an exciting 
and highly anticipated day, growing the tradition of individual and 
group service and family celebrations around food. Real Men Cook turns 
the spotlight on the bonus fathers and father-figures who step in when 
biological fathers are not involved in the lives of children, and 
encourages the celebration of those men.
  Real Men Cook generates national media attention each Father's Day, 
recognizing fathers and father-figures beyond grandfathers and uncles 
to coaches, ministers, teachers, neighbors and any man who has donated 
time and talent to help children and Real Men Cook events have been 
responsible for raising more than $1 million for the Boys & Girls 
Clubs, Community Mental Health Council, the South Side YMCA, 
foundations, museums and family service organizations. In addition, 
Real Men Cook, through Real Men Charities, presents a Health & Wellness 
Pavilion in several cities on Father's Day, providing free health 
screenings, nutritional education, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
  This year, Real Men Cook is co-sponsored by Verizon, K&G Fashion 
Superstore, Illinois Lottery, Moo & Oink, Provident Hospital of Cook 
County, the Urban Health Initiative of the University of Chicago 
Medical Centers, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, and the Illinois 
Department of Children and Family Services.
  I take special pride and satisfaction from my own longtime 
participation in Real Men Cook and I would encourage all Americans to 
follow this family tradition of volunteerism, family and community 
contribution on this Father's Day and Father's Days to come.

                          ____________________