CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Football might have brought the hundreds to the Man-up Charlotte conference Saturday, but the real issue they're trying to tackle isn't on the field.
It’s life without a father.
Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis teamed up with others in the community for the conference to help young men.
“For some kids, that can be a downfall for that kid, but for me, I used it as motivation,” Davis said.
Davis shared his personal story in a crowded room at Forest Hill Church on Park Road in an effort, along with other local leaders, to inspire men to stand up and be better fathers to their children, or children who need them.
“It's affecting me because I don’t have a dad,” participant Gye Benefield said.
The program started in Pittsburgh five years ago through a faith-based organization called Urban Impact.
Charlotte is the first city outside Pittsburgh to launch the program.
Organizers said the reason for the program is to inspire men in the community to have an impact at home, but also to serve as role models for young men who don't have a father figure.
“At first, you don’t realize it, but once you get older, you've got to think of things like ironing your shirt, tying a tie, things you don’t know how to do that a father will teach you at a young age,” participant Bobby Johnson said.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been on board with the program from the start.
Last year, he invited Davis to join him.
“More than anything, we're just trying to be better fathers and to keep it simple and start there,” Tomlin said. “Hopefully we just get a chance to touch more kids and impact them positively. That's what it’s all about."
Davis hopes the message was received by all of the men in attendance.
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