GoFundMe Started After Black-Owned Biz IAmDad365 Broken Into Following Denied Grant

IAmDad365 in Chicago is dedicated to supporting fatherhood and community.

In September, the establishment was broken into. Owner Gary L. Lewis Sr. shared that he believes this could have been prevented if their grant request for security shutters not been denied just weeks earlier. Now, Lewis has started a GoFundMe to install the rolling shutters to protect the space that serves as a community hub.

About IAmDad365

 Directly from the GoFundMe:

IAmDad365 was born from the fervent desire to promote fatherhood, restore our fractured communities, and reintroduce moral responsibility to our collective conscience. It stands as a testament to the enduring belief that fathers are not just providers, but also role models, mentors, and the anchors our society desperately needs.

The business’s origin is deeply rooted in a family of 18 children, a father’s love, and an unyielding belief in the transformative power of being a dad. Gary L. Lewis, Sr. grew up in a household with 13 siblings and experienced firsthand the profound influence of a strong and loving father. His dad instilled in him the immense benefits of parenthood and the responsibilities that come with it.

Having a strong and amazing dad is the foundation of IAmDad365. The vision for IAmDad365 also came after a heartbreaking loss when Gary’s third mentee tragically lost his life to gun violence—taken too soon, like so many before him. This grief and reflection compelled Gary to do more to save our youth. He recognized a disturbing correlation between violence and the absence of a father or father figure in the lives of so many young individuals. IAmDad365 stands as a beacon of hope and positive change by promoting the critical role of fatherhood.

GoFundMe

Lewis’s goal is to raise $8,000 to install rolling shutters and increase security to “ensure that IAmDad365 remains a safe and thriving space for our customers and community.”

“Your contributions will directly help us secure the necessary equipment to prevent future break-ins and safeguard our fatherhood mission,” the fundraiser reads.

To donate, please visit the GoFundMe.

For more information, check out the IAmDad365 website.