By NATE KING
Salina Post
Father's Day isn't a day some children look forward to because their father isn't a positive influence in their lives. Many homes have no male role model; according to a 2022 U.S. Census Bureau report, 1 in 4 kids live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in their home. Even when mothers are doing their best trying to fill the role, there is often still an emotional impact caused by absent fatherhood.
Back in June, 99KG's Shane McClintock teamed up with his trusty radio sidekick The Beaver, Salina Police Chief C.J. Wise, Sporting KC, and The Kansas City Royals to give a group of kids and their moms a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"There are three things we [99KG] always get asked about. Summer Splash, the Toy-a-thon, and then one thing sticks out more than anything that we do big or small throughout the year and that is Dad For a Day," McClintock said. "Traditionally it is always the most talked about thing when I visit with listeners they'll always say something about Dad at Dad day. It's the smallest, but biggest promotion that we do all year long."
The Dad For a Day promotion began back when McClintock was a radio personality for Q104 in Kansas City. The idea consisted of the males at the radio station would serve as a father figure.
"The premise was built around the males of the radio station taking kids without male father figures in their lives on a trip around Father's Day," McClintock said. "Kids who either their dad is in prison or jail, they passed away or maybe kids just live with a single mom."
According to McClintock in years past the day consisted of taking the Trolley to Arrowhead Stadium for a top-down tour of the stadium, which included seeing the Kansas City Chiefs locker rooms and press box.
"From there, we would go to a place called Paradise Park in Lee's Summit and then we'd go to Kauffman Stadium either for a tour or a game," McClintock said.
McClintock said in past years Country Duo Big and Rich flew out to Kansas City and performed acoustically for the children and their moms.
After returning to Salina in 2013, McClintock started the Dad For a Day Promotion at 99KG.
"Our trips would always depend on if the Royals were in town or not," McClintock said. "If the Royals were out of town we would take a tour Kauffman if they were in town, we'd go to a game."
For the mothers and children who won the trip, it was like "winning the lottery." One of the mothers who went was Heidi Black, a single mom of two. Black said between her busy work schedule, tight budget, and no vacation days, family trips were few and far between.
"Being a single mother, we really do live paycheck to paycheck," Black said. "We've gone to the beach at Kanopolis and met friends and other people who have campers and things like that. But nothing compares to this."
Heidi and her two children, toured Kauffman Stadium, including the dugouts, locker rooms, press box, TV Media Center, and suites.
"My son just started playing baseball in his teens and his team is called the Royals," Black said. "He was really excited about getting to go. He got to go into the dugout and we got some KC Royals World Series shirts. He's never been there before. It was a day we will never forget."
For Black, life as a single mom began after a traumatic series of incidents involving her ex-husband.
"It was a very tumultuous relationship. We had dated since high school. We were married, but he chose a different path in life and became upset when I didn't want to go there with him," Black said. "I ended up leaving him and he attempted to murder me."
Black said she left her ex when her daughter was only one year old and her son was three.
"My daughter has never had her father in her life and my son barely remembers him," Black said. "It's nothing I did. It was just a very abusive situation, that got out of control."
Black said she was scared to leave him for a long time, but was glad she summoned the courage to do so. Tragedy struck her family a second time when Black's brother, the children's surrogate father figure, passed away six months after she left the children's father.
"I've already been through the worst of it. Life is looking up now but it was like they lost their daddy and their uncle at the same time. Thankfully they still see their grandpa who takes them fishing,” Black said.
Black said the children's father is serving a 28-year prison sentence. Black's daughter will be 30 years old when he is released.
"Making memories and having an opportunity to just spend a day doing several things we probably otherwise would have never been able to do in our lifetime," Black said. "It's the most memorable thing that I think we've done together so far in their little lives."
Black said since the children's father is not present in their lives, she has filled in some of the fatherly roles, like coaching her son's baseball and basketball teams.
One addition to this year's trip was Salina Police Chief Wise. This was his first year participating in 99KG's Dad For a Day.
"I was honored to be a part of the event. It was awesome to see the children have a great time with their mothers and just be kids," Wise said. "I have the utmost respect for the mothers I got to meet and was glad to get to spend the day with their family."
McClintock told Salina Post he appreciates community partners, Long McArthur, who donated the vans used to transport the group to Kansas City, and Doug Bradley Trucking, who donated $20 for every child to use during the trip.
The group also stopped at Prehistoric Putt, a dinosaur-themed putt-putt golf course in Independence, Missouri. The trip concluded with a tour of Sporting KC Children's Mercy Park, and a trip to the water park at Great Wolf Lodge.
"As we walked into the executive level, I saw the 99KG logo on one of the television screens I thought that was pretty cool," McClintock said. "That was when our tour guide said, 'It doesn't end here.' That was awesome to see."
When the group made their way onto the field they discovered that every television monitor within the stadium had the 99KG logo on display.
McClintock, whose parents divorced in 1989, said his own father wasn't always there every day with him while he was growing up.
"When my parents divorced in 1989, my stepdad and dad became good friends. My dad was still very active in my life, but he wasn't there every single day," McClintock said. "I'd see him three days a week. So When you see some of these kids, and they just kind of latch on and gravitate towards you while you are playing putt-putt, it gives you that feeling like you are doing something that has impact and meaning."
99KG's Dad For a Day promotion was more than just a day of fun- it was a day where memories were made and day-to-day struggles were forgotten.
"We'll always remember Shane and C.J. and Beaver," Black said. "They'll remember it forever. I'm sure in 10 years or so from now when they see Shane, they're going to remember."