The Council Of Dads Puts Community To Work Supporting Student Athletes And More

By Patrick Sherry

One man’s fight to stay alive became the start of supporting the future lives of hundreds of kids in Wellington. After years of battling cancer, John Sitomer now leads a team fighting for others to lead successful lives.

While undergoing treatment, Sitomer was inspired to found the Council of Dads in Wellington in 2018 after reading Bruce Feiler’s book, The Council of Dads. The memoir details the journey of a father with cancer recruiting six men in his life to offer guidance to his children if he died. Motivated by similar experiences, and the needs Sitomer saw in his community, he created the organization to provide mentorship and support to the youth of Wellington.

“I think every community in the United States needs a Council of Dads,” he said. “So, I said, you know what? I’m going to form a council for that.”

Sitomer was first diagnosed with cancer in 1998, and over the next several years, he was diagnosed three more times. While receiving treatment, he maintained a strong connection to sports, in particular, the Wellington Wolves Youth Basketball organization. He recognized that many members of the team did not have the resources for academic success, so he centered his Council of Dads on providing those student athletes with free tutoring services and mentorship.

“We had a pool of 400 or 500 kids to be able to help with tutoring and other initiatives,” Sitomer said. “I thought that number would probably be the most that this local council would be able to handle and service properly at one time.”

To help with this mission, Sitomer recruited local leaders to serve on the Council of Dads. Each of them helps in providing mentorship, community assistance and personalized academic support. If one member of the council decides to step down from the position, they recommend someone to fill their spot. Current members Dr. Gordon Johnson, Dr. Jim Shecter, Chris Fratalia, Grant Johnson, Howard Eisenberg, Mike Colin and Jeff Sitomer work with John Sitomer to empower kids to reach their full potential.

“I feel very fortunate to be involved with this,” Sitomer said. “I hate when people think it’s me. It’s not me. I have other people on my board, pay dues, and I can consult with for ideas.”

Members of the Wellington Wolves and their siblings are offered free one-on-one tutoring sessions in seven subjects. The council hires students from local schools to help participants with their studies. For the entire school year, every Monday and Wednesday at the Wellington library, students affiliated with the Wellington Wolves fill the library to learn. The council provides free snacks and drinks while paying the tutors for their assistance.

Since starting the free tutoring services, the council has seen dramatic academic improvement across the board. To celebrate these achievements, the Council of Dads holds scholarship ceremonies at the end of the year. Every year, dozens of students with a grade point average over 3.0 receive a small scholarship and certificate. In 2025 alone, they honored 108 student-athletes during the ceremony.

“We care about the kids more off the court than on the court,” Sitomer said. “Most sports associations want to win, win, win and get the best players, but they’re not checking grades or making sure everything is OK at home.”

Dr. Gordon Johnson, a retired pathologist, is one of the original members on the Council of Dads. Before joining the organization, he served as the chief of staff and chair of the Wellington Regional Medical Center Board of Governors. He was approached by Sitomer to join the Council of Dads and noticed how academic performance among many players on the Wellington Wolves was not where it needed to be.

Through tutoring and mentorship, Johnson stresses the importance of showing realistic paths to success, and that education is essential, because not everyone will become a professional athlete.

“In time, I saw how important [the Council of Dads] was because what I had the opportunity to do was mentor kids… and also, to let them know that they needed to have alternative plans,” Johnson said.

Outside of their educational initiatives, the Council of Dads holds an annual shoe drive. The organization partners with the charity In Jacob’s Shoes to collect and deliver pairs of shoes to children in need across South Florida. They also regularly hold food drives for The Soup Kitchen, which provides free meals to those in need.

The organization has also participated in hurricane relief efforts. In 2019, the Council of Dads helped collect 25,000 pounds of building supplies and helped deliver five cargo planes of aid to the Bahamas. Sitomer personally was on board each of the flights to ensure that the supplies were given to those in need.

“It’s making our kids more charitable, and also more aware of the hardships that are out there beyond their own families,” Sitomer said. “The good that we have done… has done absolute wonders over eight years.”

Johnson believes that organizations like the Council of Dads are critical to supporting youth in the community. The Council of Dads has helped students open their minds to different types of success, and community members have a duty to help guide children forward, he said.

“There is probably no better place to donate,” he said. “What we’re doing is really good for the community. Part of why crime and so forth are down is really because of these kinds of programs. This is what keeps kids out of mischief and off the streets.”

Life’s ups and downs are something Sitomer knows all too well. Debilitating health problems did not stop him. Instead, they led him to a mission to support others so they can be the best version of themselves.

Through work like the Council of Dads, Sitomer hopes to help others, so they can succeed and do the same in the future.

“Our time on Earth is really short. It’s only in decades, but how you’re thought of can go on for eternity,” Sitomer said. “I just want to be known as a good guy, as a caring guy, and someone who looks after the underdog.”

Learn more about the Wellington Council of Dads and its programs at www.wellingtoncouncilofdads.com.