By Mike Davisson, Executive Director for Father’s Club

Father’s Club is proud to welcome Chris Schechinger to our Board of Directors. Chris brings a unique combination of professional leadership, community involvement, and, most importantly, a deep passion for the role fathers play in the lives of their children.

Chris’s commitment to fatherhood is rooted in his own childhood experiences. As the youngest of eight children, he grew up in Delaware and experienced firsthand the impact that parental absence can have on a child. Following his parents’ separation when he was 11 years old, and even before that due to his father’s extensive work travel, Chris often attended sporting events and school activities without a parent in the stands. He remembers riding his bike to practice and games, relying on coaches and teammates’ parents for rides, and looking into the crowd hoping to see someone there supporting him.

Those experiences left a lasting impression.

The Kind of Father Who Shows Up

Rather than allowing those memories to define him negatively, Chris made a commitment that one day he would be the kind of father who showed up. Whether attending games, performances, school events, or simply being present for everyday moments in life, Chris and his wife, Angie, made it a priority to be actively involved in their children’s lives.

That philosophy aligns perfectly with the mission of the Father’s Club. Chris strongly believes that fathers have an incredible opportunity to influence their children’s lives and that something as simple as showing up can have a lifelong impact.

Chris’s dedication to hard work and leadership has been evident throughout his life. A multi-sport athlete growing up, he competed in baseball, football, track, and wrestling before attending the University of Delaware, where he wrestled and ran track for two seasons. Although injuries and financial realities led him to step away from collegiate athletics, the discipline and competitive spirit he developed through sports became the foundation for his professional success.

After graduating, Chris launched his sales career at ADP, where he quickly distinguished himself by earning Rookie of the Year honors and President’s Club recognition. Most recently, he spent 13.5 years at CBIZ in various business development and leadership roles, rising to Senior Director of the Technology Division. Chris has since joined BlueTitan, a technology startup, as Vice President of Business Development.

Family

Chris and Angie recently celebrated nearly 30 years of marriage after meeting while Chris was visiting family in Texas. Together, they have raised two remarkable children. Their son, Kollin, lives in Winter Park, Colorado, where he works as a ski patroller at Winter Park Resort. Their daughter, Calista, currently resides in Malta, where she is pursuing her professional soccer career.

Beyond his family and professional accomplishments, Chris has consistently dedicated his time to serving others. He currently serves on the Johnson County Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board of Directors and has previously held leadership positions with the Lions Gate HOA Board and the Jaguar Lacrosse Club Board of Directors, including serving as President and Vice President.

When he is not working or volunteering, Chris and Angie enjoy life on their five-acre hobby farm in southern Overland Park, where they raise chickens, garden, grow fruits and vegetables, and farm hay. They also enjoy traveling, hiking, biking, camping, and spending time with their children whenever possible.

Chris’s personal story, leadership experience, and unwavering belief in the importance of engaged fatherhood make him an outstanding addition to the Father’s Club Board of Directors. We are excited to welcome him to the team and look forward to the impact he will have as we continue our mission of encouraging fathers to be present, involved, and supportive in the lives of their children.

Please join us in welcoming Chris to the Father’s Club Board of Directors.

Next Steps

• To get involved with a Father’s Club chapter at your school, visit the Chapters page on our website.
• If there isn’t a chapter currently at your school and you would like to know more about starting a Father’s Club chapter, visit the Contact page and fill out the form with your details and we will be in touch!

By Kevin Saylan, Chapter Chair at Blue Valley West High School for Father’s Club

The 2025–2026 school year was one of the most impactful and active years in the history of the Blue Valley West Father’s Club.

This year, our chapter hosted an incredible 51 events across the school year — a new record for our organization. These events reflected our continued commitment to supporting students, staff, and fellow members while strengthening the Blue Valley West community.

Our events fell into three categories:

• 34 student-related events
• 7 staff-related events
• 10 member-related events

From welcoming students at sunrise before the first day of school to celebrating seniors at the end of the year, Father’s Club remained dedicated to creating meaningful connections and supporting mental health, school spirit, and community involvement.

 

Supporting Students Throughout the Year

Student-focused events remained at the heart of our mission. We kicked off the year with events like Senior Sunrise, Fist Bumps for Food, Jaguar Grill, and Back to School Night, helping students feel welcomed and connected from day one.

Throughout the year, we partnered with school leaders and community organizations to support student well-being and school culture through events such as:

• SOS / Suicide Prevention Week
• School Assemblies with JPCo
• Mental Health Awareness Poster Contest
• Mental Health Awareness “Cope Cakes” Lunch
• Purple Out Basketball Contest/Pizza Giveaway
• Sweetheart Dance
• Homecoming
• Prom
• Senior Sunset
• Wellness Week Activities
• Freshman Orientation and School Assemblies
• In addition, our volunteers staffed concessions for six football games during the season, helping create memorable Friday (or Thursday) night experiences.

One of the most visible and consistent programs this year was Fist Bumps for Food, where volunteers greeted students with a fist bump and donut or mental health wristbands. These events took place multiple times throughout the year, including an outreach at CAPS, reinforcing our chapter’s commitment to kindness, service, and community care.

Mental Health Scholarship Impact

One of the most meaningful moments of the year came during Blue Valley West Class Day, where we recognized six outstanding seniors with the BVW Father’s Club Mental Health Scholarship. This year, our chapter awarded $5,500 in scholarships, ranging from $500 to $2,000. Over the past four years, the organization has now awarded a total of $24,000 to Blue Valley West seniors.

To be considered, students submitted essays reflecting on:

• Their personal experiences facing mental health challenges
• The ways they supported others through difficult times
• Efforts to reduce stigma and improve well-being within the community

The essays were honest, courageous, and deeply moving. Students shared stories of struggle, healing, resilience, compassion, and hope. Their words reminded all of us that mental health challenges do not define a person — they are simply part of the human experience. We are incredibly proud of these students for their vulnerability, leadership, and commitment to helping others.

Supporting Teachers and Staff

Our Father’s Club chapter also continued its strong tradition of supporting the amazing teachers and staff at Blue Valley West.

Throughout the year, we hosted appreciation events including:

• Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
• Coffee Trailer appreciation events
• Teacher Appreciation Lunch with PTO
• Family Night Sportsapalooza
• Staff Appreciation Week activities
• End-of-Year Staff Luncheon

These events were small ways to express our gratitude for the tremendous dedication shown by BVW staff every single day.

Building Brotherhood and Community

Connection among members remained another important focus this year.

From the Father’s Club Kickoff Night in September to multiple dads socials throughout the school year, members had opportunities to build friendships, strengthen involvement, and continue growing the culture of support within our chapter.

Leadership team meetings throughout the year also helped prepare for future growth and continued success heading into the school year.

Looking Ahead

The success of the 2025–2026 school year would not have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, school administration, teachers, families, students, and community partners.

Together, we created opportunities to serve, encourage, support, and connect.

As we look ahead to next year, we are excited to continue building on this momentum and finding even more ways to positively impact the Blue Valley West community.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year unforgettable. Go Jags!

Next Steps

• To get involved with a Father’s Club chapter at your school, visit the Chapters page on our website.
• If there isn’t a chapter currently at your school and you would like to know more about starting a Father’s Club chapter, visit the Contact page and fill out the form with your details and we will be in touch!

By Tyler Cook, Chapter Chair at Olathe East High School for Father’s Club

As the school year winds down and the summer vibes start creeping in, it’s the perfect time to look back at what we just pulled off. To put it simply: this year was awesome.

We talk a lot about “intentionality” in Father’s Club, but this past year wasn’t just about talking—it was about showing up. Our mission has always been simple: invest in our Students, support our Community, and build real connections with other Dads.

Looking back at the calendar, we didn’t just scratch the surface. Nearly 50 Dads stepped up to the plate this year, knocking out over 50 events and opportunities across the school calendar.

The Highlight Reel: What We Did

If you saw a group of guys having fun, handing out high fives, or standing around a grill at OE this year, it was probably us. Here is just a taste of how we stayed busy:

Supporting Our Students & School Spirit

• The Kickoff: We started the year right with a massive Varsity Football Tailgate, where we met other Dads, connected with students and fed fans
• Friday Energy: Our monthly Fist Bump Fridays became a staple, launching students into their day with high energy (and maybe a few bad Dad jokes).
• Exam Fuel: We handed out #2 pencils, positive vibes, and fist bumps on standardized testing days. We also know that students do better on tests when they have breakfast, so we brought Chick-Fil-A to keep them fed and focused on the first day of Finals
• School Events: From helping with table games at OE’s Casino Night to setting up for the ELA Awards, working coat check and welcoming students at Prom, helping out at Choir Pancake Breakfasts, and partnering with students on class projects, we were there.
• Won Big: We faced off against Olathe South Dads in our annual halftime showdown, winning a pizza party for our students at the OE vs. OS varsity basketball game… and no Dads got hurt!
• Celebrated Seniors: We had fun setting up games and getting things ready for the offsite Senior Picnic and participated in the largest OE kickball game!

Grilling, Giving Back, and Community Partnerships

• The Ultimate Grilling Crew: We fired up the grills all year long. We partnered with StuCo for the Homecoming Bonfire, the first Varsity Football game, and grilled for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week with no injuries to note other than a few burnt hot dogs and burgers
• IPS Support: Some of our favorite moments involved firing up the grill for Unified Soccer, Olathe District-Wide Field Day, and end of year student and senior celebrations.
• Helping Hawks Take Flight: We were incredibly proud to award scholarships to two deserving seniors who showed perseverance and resilience

Mental Health & Connections

• Real Support: We deeply value our partnership with OE Counselors, supporting them during Kindness Week and collaborating on mental health and awareness efforts during the year
• The Legacy Letter Challenge: We hosted this powerful initiative, teaching parents how to write meaningful, lasting letters to their graduating seniors.

Dad-to-Dad Connections

• It wasn’t just about volunteering; it was about community. Our Monthly Coffee Talks, Monthly Dad Night Happy Hours and grilling together at events gave us a casual space to hang out, laugh, and get to know other Dads in the community.

The Thank You List (The Most Important Part)

An operation like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We owe a massive shoutout to everyone who made this year possible:

• To OE Administration, Teachers, and Staff: Thank you for opening your doors, collaborating and supporting us.
• To OE Students: Thanks for your smiles, your fist bumps, for laughing at our jokes (or at least politely rolling your eyes) and cheering us on. That simple stuff means the world to us.
• To Moms and Families: Thank you for the constant encouragement and for pushing the Dads in your life to get involved.
• To Donors: A huge thank you to every Dad, group, and business that donated in support of our initiatives. A special shoutout goes to CommunityAmerica, who joined us in our mission this year!
• To Dads: Without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks for your time, your intention, and your endless support.

Simple Actions. Big Impact.

If this year proved anything, it’s that simple actions go a long way. You don’t need a ton of free time to make a difference—you just have to show up when you can. The more Dads we have on board, the larger the impact we can make for these kids.

Want to join us at Olathe East next year? Whether you can make it to one event or twenty, we’d love to have you. Reach out to me with questions, and make sure to sign up to get on our email list so you don’t miss out on future activities.

Have a great summer!

Next Steps

• To get involved with a Father’s Club chapter at your school, visit the Chapters page on our website.
• If there isn’t a chapter currently at your school and you would like to know more about starting a Father’s Club chapter, visit the Contact page and fill out the form with your details and we will be in touch!

By Robert Mitchell and Ricky Ogden

Robert’s Perspective

For years I would help at my daughters’ elementary school as a volunteer lunch aide. I’d take two hours off in the middle of the workday, go to the school and help the younger kids open milk cartons, get straws, and clean the tables for the next group. For the older kids, we had conversations, dad jokes and interactions focused on them.

Four years ago, I met a girl during lunch. Let’s call her Justin. Justin was engaging. She asked great questions and always looked me in the eyes when we spoke. She also loved wearing a Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings jersey. For the next three years, when I was a lunch aide, I would see Justin, and we would talk about martial arts, grades, football, and dad jokes. She went to the same school as my daughters. My daughters knew of her, but were not friends with her.

February 5, 2026

Fast forward to Thursday, February 5, 2026, the California Trail Middle School Chapter of Father’s Club was providing ice cream to all the students during lunch.  That morning in our Father’s Club group text I got a message that a father in our chapter was admitted to the hospital the previous night and undergoing treatment for a serious medical condition. My heart dropped. I knew this father did not get a chance to kiss and hug his daughters goodbye that morning. Also, this father would have been at the school with us serving ice cream to his daughter, my daughter, and hundreds of other students.

The sixth graders have lunch first. In walks Justin. I greet her at her table with a fist bump. Knowing her father was in the hospital, I tell her I know he misses you and wishes he could be here for you. I could see the fear and sadness in her face as tears started to well up. With the school administrators’ permission, the group of fathers took a picture with Justin. I texted the picture to her father. Twenty minutes later, as the 6^th graders were dismissed from lunch, Justin ran across the lunchroom and gave me a hug. Then she ran out, off to 4^th hour. That was the highlight of my week. We had a divine appointment. As a group of men, we stepped in for a short amount of time and changed the temperature in the room for her.

That’s why I love Justin Jefferson.

Ricky’s Perspective

It was a Tuesday morning in early February. I woke up, did my morning routine workout, kissed my wife and daughters goodbye, and headed to a routine dentist appointment. But this day was anything but routine. As the morning went on, I didn’t feel my best but didn’t stop to really evaluate how I was doing. Fast forward to the evening right before our bedtime routine with our daughters, my wife astutely listened to my heart with a stethoscope. “I don’t like what I’m hearing” she said in a kind but firm voice.

We put the girls to bed and headed to the emergency room where I was diagnosed as being in full-blown atrial fibrillation. I was stunned, terrified, and completely at a loss. Here I was, the proud father of two amazing daughters and a devoted husband to my incredible wife of almost 19 years. And yet, there I was lying helpless in a hospital bed with one of my most basic bodily functions in complete disarray.

I was supposed to have been at my youngest daughter’s school with Father’s Club to celebrate its 30^th anniversary and then give Fist Bumps for Kindness at my eldest daughter’s school, and yet I was unable to even have a normal heart rhythm. At that moment, all I wanted to do was hug my girlies one more time.

Thankfully, my fellow brothers in Father’s Club rallied around me with their messages of support and offering to help my family. They also rallied around my daughters and made them feel supported and special when I was unable to. My medical team was able to take phenomenal care of me and get my heart back in rhythm. It was then that I got to see my girlies, hug them tight, and let them know that I was going to be alright.

I continued to receive so many messages from my fellow Father’s Club friends, sharing with me their thoughts and prayers and offering continued support for my family. I had always viewed Father’s Club as a fantastic way for dads to get involved in their kids’ lives, but this extreme experience has also shown how incredible Father’s Club is at supporting dads as well.

Next Steps

• To get involved with a Father’s Club chapter at your school, visit the Chapters page on our website.
• If there isn’t a chapter currently at your school and you would like to know more about starting a Father’s Club chapter, visit the Contact page and fill out the form with your details and we will be in touch!

By Jason Dolezal, Chapter Chair at Stanley Elementary and Charles Dahm, Blue Valley District Chair for Father’s Club

The Stanley Elementary School Father’s Club wanted to give the students a memorable Spring Break sendoff. They showed up, along with Blue Valley High (BVH) Student Council (StuCo) members to give out fist bumps, high fives and of course BUBBLES??!?

And bubbles were everywhere — bubble wands, mini bubbles, chalk bubbles drawn on the sidewalk and bubble machines. Students were encouraged to jump on the drawn bubbles and “pop” into spring break. High winds carried bubbles down the block as the dads greeted the students, parents, and teachers on the eve of spring break.

Jason Dolezal, the Stanley Elementary Father’s Club Chair and a teacher at BVH knows that small acts of intentional connection can help spread joy and a sense of community. “We just wanted to put a smile on their faces and wish them a fun Spring Break.”

He says, “We are hopefully starting traditions that will become a part of the Stanley Culture. High school clubs have begun to assist us as well. In addition to StuCo – Students Assisting Schools, Tiger Pride, and National Honor Society have been great partners.”

Laurie Warwick the BVH StuCo sponsor said, “The students are always excited to do projects with the elementary school kids. Father’s Club dads are excellent role models for our group. Our #1 goal is to help our members be good humans and these dads were demonstrating that today.”

The Stanley Elementary Chapter is rolling into the summer with more events for teachers, students and dads including a night at World of Racing, a teacher appreciation night, and a PTO appreciation charcuterie and lemonade bar among MANY other activities.

The bubble sendoff was a big success and is likely to become an annual event.  One mom gave high praise with her short affirmation, “This is so cute!”

Would you like to join in the fun? You won’t regret it!

Next Steps

• To get involved with a Father’s Club chapter at your school, visit the Chapters page on our website.
• If there isn’t a chapter currently at your school and you would like to know more about starting a Father’s Club chapter, visit the Contact page and fill out the form with your details and we will be in touch!