When I look back on the journey of Man Up and Go, it’s clear that the evolution of our mission and vision has been a deeply collaborative and transformative process. In case we haven’t met, I’m Jeff Ford, and as the CEO of this organization, I’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible team to refine our purpose and strategy, guided by insights from thought leaders like Simon Sinek and deeply rooted in our Christian faith.

Looking back on the journey of Man Up and Go over the past decade, I’m amazed at how much we’ve grown and evolved. As the CEO of this nonprofit, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing and guiding our transformation. When we first launched Man Up and Go in 2014, it was driven by a profound sense of purpose and urgency. A friend and I had just returned from a transformative trip to Africa, and we were on fire with ideas. We knew we needed to act on our experiences and make a difference. This was also the year we decided to climb Kilimanjaro—a symbol of our commitment to reaching new heights in both personal and organizational goals.

I think it's fair to say that most of us have some "daddy issues." Whether we had a great dad, a good dad, or maybe one who was just kind of okay—or even a dad who wasn’t present at all—those experiences shape us in profound ways. As humans, we all fall short, and sometimes, it’s tempting to compare our earthly fathers to our Heavenly Father. But doing so isn’t exactly wise because our Heavenly Father is perfect, while our earthly fathers, like us, are imperfect.

I am incredibly blessed to work alongside an amazing team at Man Up and Go. One of the things I love most is their passion for fatherhood. Our team doesn't just know the statistics about fatherless homes—they’ve lived through the real-life struggles. It hits home for them, and because of that, they bring an authenticity to everything we do. It’s inspiring to see how their personal stories fuel their dedication to our mission.