Thank you to everyone who helped and participated in the 2009 Colorado Fatherhood Rally! Despite a sky full of threatening clouds nothing rained on this parade! Those present were treated to a great performance and introduction to the power of fatherhood wisdom passed from generation to generation by the Denver Indian Family Resource Center Dancers.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper accompanied by his son, Teddy, reminded us of the importance of parental involvement in the life of children no matter what their age.

Dwayne Meeks and Demetrious Jenkins of Urban Colors Arts & Mentoring were awarded the Be There for Your Kids Fatherhood Program of the Year Award. Joel Webster, father to Michael - 13 and Haley 9 received the Be There for Your Kids Father of the Year Award. Joel spent his formative years in and out of foster care, ended up dropping out of high school and spending more time than he would like to recall homeless. Joel was able to break a generational cycle of pain to becoming a hero in the eyes of his wife, children and kids across his neighborhood. He sees himself as "just an ordinary dad." We recognize him because others have seen the extraordinary in his life!

Other award recipients that received acknowledgement for their work were Jerome Perkins of Christlife Ministries in Pueblo as fatherhood practitioner of the year, Tyler Osterhaus with Weld County Department of Human Services as the Colorado Fatherhood Council Member of the Year and Dennis Hofts, Advocate of the year for his work with the Colorado chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. All of these recipients will be honored again at the 2009 Fatherhood Training Academy this October in Colorado Springs.

Governor Bill Ritter rounded out the morning's presentations with words of encouragement and appreciation for the work being done through fatherhood programs across the state on behalf of Colorado's children. In addition to sharing his own fathering experiences Governor Ritter stuck around to enjoy some of the fun and talk with many of the people present.

Members of the East High School Drumline and the band, Planet O, provided entertainment.

Thank you to Jeffery Johnson and the coordinators of the National Fatherhood Rally in Washington DC who birthed the vision of a National Rally and encouraged us every step of the way as we developed our State Rally. Thanks to the Colorado Fatherhood Council and the Rally Sub-Team. And a special thank you to Maggie, Danielle, Lyric and Jackie - the sung and unsung women behind the event without whom it never would have happened.

Follow this link for CBS News 4's video overview of the event - Help Dads Get More Involved in Kids' Lives June 20, 2009.