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FeedFRONTLINE: Doing Good
A Father’s Love
By Brian Krier Published May 17, 2007 at 12:00 AM
In August 2005, Ron Opher celebrated his 40th birthday. But what many consider an event worth celebrating was a solemn milestone for Opher. He has lived to be older than his father and grandfather, both who suffered from Marfan Syndrome, a potentially deadly connective tissue disorder.
Spurred by memories of his father, the Wayne attorney founded Daddy’s Spirit Moves Me Forward. Incorporated in September 2005, the Valley Forge-based organization helps address the unique needs of children who have lost a father, providing a positive outlet for grieving children and facilitating experiences they lack after the loss of a parent. Through field trips, sporting events and other group activities, the goal is to encourage kids to have fun again. Opher see it as “a dual process”—honoring the memory of the father while allowing kids to move forward and recognize that they’re growing up.
Now in its second year, Daddy’s Spirit is looking to expand beyond the Philadelphia area and raise its maximum age from 8 to 12. Scholarships, sports equipment, musical instruments and adding more field trips are all part of the organization’s long-term goals, which hinge on further support from volunteers and donors. “We want to show kids that there is kindness in the world, to give them optimism,” says Opher. For more information, call (610) 710-1477 or visit daddysspirit.org.
