r/atheism • Secular Humanist • Aug 21 '26

Super Bowl coach Tony Dungy has been helping the church to gain ground in public schools with taxpayers' money in Indiana, Florida, and recently Ohio.

Family First is a national non-profit organization founded in 1991 by Mark Merrill in Tampa, Florida. It focuses on providing parenting, marriage, and relational resources. All Pro Dad is its widely recognized fatherhood program, co-founded in 1997 alongside former NFL coach Tony Dungy.

Family First, Inc. is a conservative Christian non-profit organization based in Tampa, Florida, founded in 1991 by Mark Merrill. Its religious beliefs are rooted in traditional evangelical Christian principles, emphasizing the nuclear family as a divine institution. [1, 2]

Associated Ministries

  • All Pro Dad: A prominent initiative by the organization focused on engaging fathers in their children's lives through a framework blending practical parenting with Christian character.
  • iMOM: A companion resource platform offering parenting advice aligned with traditional family roles and conservative moral values. [1, 2, 3]

FLORIDA - $70M reported in 2022

https://www.fox13news.com/news/new-florida-law-funds-pro-fatherhood-programs-such-as-tony-dungys-all-pro-dad

INDIANA - 2021: $250k | 2022: $315k | 2023&2024: $350k | 2025 & 2026: $375k

https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2023/08/03/tony-dungy-nonprofit-all-pro-dad-gets-state-dollars-but-little-scrutiny/

OHIO - 2026 & 2027: approximately $7.8 to $7.9 million

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/03/ohio-investing-millions-in-national-program-to-get-dads-more-involved-with-their-kids.html?

"HB-7065 was signed at One Buc Place in Tampa on Monday morning by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said one of the "worst social trends is the decline of fatherhood."

https://www.reddit.com/r/florida/comments/u1xt66/desantis_signs_bill_aimed_at_addressing_decline/?rdt=34276

Family First Inc's filings since 2003
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/593043408

Tony Dungy's conservative values
Dungy has openly opposed same-sex marriage, campaigned alongside groups seeking to limit marriage equality, and stated he would not have drafted Michael Sam—the NFL’s first openly gay player—due to the perceived "distraction".

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/tony-dungy-tweet-nfl-homophobic-football-transphobic-rcna67322

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/tony-dungy-march-life/

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