Healthy Mothers / Healthy Babies

Father of the Year 2006

Responsible Fatherhood Initiative honors Frank Ransom as Father of the Year

The Responsible Fatherhood Initiative, a program operated by the healthy mothers/healthy babies coalition of palm beach county, inc., has named West Palm Beach resident Frank Ransom as 2006 Father of the Year. Ransom was selected from 14 finalists nominated for the prestigious award. He and the other finalists were honored at a breakfast Saturday, June 17 at The West Palm Beach Marriott.

Ransom was nominated by his wife, Tracy Ransom. She joined him at the breakfast along with their son Dwaine, 13, and foster children Therrond, 7, Keabeaona, 6 and Jaderius, 23 months. Mrs. Ransom said her husband is "very dedicated to kids of all ages, including the underprivileged kids without parents who need guidance and support." She also noted that her husband has escorted girls to dances because they didn't have a father to escort them. Ransom was also recognized for his longtime support of basketball programs at Roosevelt Elementary School, Jupiter Middle School, Palm Beach Gardens High School, the I.C.A.N. Panthers Basketball League, and the West Palm Beach Police Athletic League. He also participates in the Belvedere Elementary School Parent Program and the Marshall Temple Sunday School Program. Ransom manages all of this despite being disabled from a back injury sustained while working as a heavy equipment operator.

West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel presented the award to Ransom, who lives with his family in the Northwood Hills neighborhood of West Palm Beach. Ransom was also congratulated by Kevin Rolston of radio station Wild 95.5's "Kevin and Virginia Show," who served as emcee of the event, and Florida State Representative Anne Gannon, (D- District 86) a longtime supporter of healthy mother/healthy babies initiatives.

Ransom's prize package includes the Father of the Year Award, a gift certificate for a family portrait, a gift certificate for dinner with his family at Carrabba's Italian Restaurant and a one-of-a-kind shirt. The other finalists received Certificates of Recognition.

Father of the Year Finalists included Michael Appelbaum of Lake Worth, Joseph W. Callahan, Jr. of Delray Beach, Christopher John DeLeon of West Palm Beach, Ted Diver of West Palm Beach, Manuel I. Gutierrez of West Palm Beach, Eduardo "Wally" Hernandez of Wellington, Jeffrey Todd Levy of Wellington, Robert B. Selby, Sr. of Wellington, Rick Sexton of West Palm Beach, Walter W. Sheltz of North Palm Beach, Miguel Suarez of West Palm Beach, Victor Devon Toomer of West Palm Beach and Kenneth Henry Witt of West Palm Beach.

The Father of the Year Award is one of many programs offered by The Responsible Fatherhood Initiative. The program, under the auspices of the healthy mothers/healthy babies coalition of Palm Beach County, works to help prevent problems that occur when a responsible father is not present in a child's life.

Members of the Father of the Year Committee include Steven Eassa of Fidelity Federal Bank and Trust, Maggie Dante of Children's Services Council Parenting Center, Brian Murphy of Center for Dependency, Cory Neering and Ricky Siegal of Planned Parenthood, and Responsible Fatherhood Initiative staff members John Joseph, Mario Wright and Roger Pineda. Sponsors of the Father of the Year program are Fidelity Federal Bank and Trust and the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County.

For more information, call (561) 732-2110.