Father and son fishing.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Staff Report

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Sickle Cell Foundation of Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast help more than 30,000 people with the Sickle Cell Disease or Trait, and their families, annually. However, the foundation also helps strengthen families in other ways.

One of those initiatives is the ‘A Father’s Heart Conference’ and awards banquet, which will be held June 16-18 at the Riviera Beach Marina Village, located at 200 E. 13 Street. Tickets are $125 for the full three-day conference and $75 for the awards banquet.

Under the theme ‘Your Presence is Required,” the conference and awards banquet will feature renowned speakers.

It grew out of the Foundation’s Community Voice Program, which focuses on black infant mortality and strengthening the family. It has been funded for nearly a decade by the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.

“One of the most critical ways to strengthen a family is to empower the father,” said Shalonda Warren, the Foundation’s CEO. “So this conference is all about getting that father involved, providing him the tools and knowledge he needs to be there for his family and for his community. That’s why we selected the theme we did. It was not a random choice.”

A big component of the conference is the Men of Distinction Awards, which will be held at 6 p.m. on June 16. Nominations will be accepted through May 14 in the categories of Public Service, Youth Leadership, Education, Spiritual Leadership and NonProfit Service.

Visit http://ow.ly/wVGJ30bzzUy to nominate online or call 561-833-3113 to do so by mail or fax. For more information on the conference, visit www.sicklecellpbc.org.