The work of The William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation is an extension of the values and beliefs of the O'Neill family. Chief among them is the recognition that the family is the most fundamental and important of all human institutions, and that the stability of families—and the quality of family life—has enormous impact on both individuals and society.

With this principle at its core, in 1995 the O'Neill Foundation began supporting efforts to strengthen families by dedicating its resources to programs that assist fathers and promote responsible fatherhood.

The decision to focus on fathers was not a random one. Early on, the O'Neill family and foundation convened a group of experts to help them determine how their resources could best be used to help promote stable families. Over the course of a three-day symposium, 37 O'Neill family members listened to nearly two-dozen professionals speak about crucial issues including:

• the interaction and interconnectedness of families and society
• factors that contribute to family disintegration
• the importance of genetic factors
• the role of government assistance programs in family structure
• the effect of poverty on families
• domestic violence
• divorce
• marriage no longer being a prerequisite to parenthood
• substance abuse and others

In the discussions that followed, it was noted that although many programs existed for women and children—including the welfare reform of the late 1990s—few resources were available to help at-risk men develop into strong, supportive fathers. Seizing the opportunity to meet this unfilled need, the family committed then and there to focus on fathers and father-child relationships. It was a groundbreaking approach at the time, but over the years it has borne fruit in many communities, helping to transform individual lives, save families and even influence public policy.