Greetings, my name is Rufus Sylvester Lynch, Founder, and Chair of The Strong Families Commission, Incorporated (THE COMMISSION). 

You may remember me as advocating for passage of H.B. 1731, Printers’ Number 2953, which unanimously passed in both Chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and signed by Governor Tom Wolf on November 3 rd , 2022, establishing the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement, within the Joint State Government Commission and providing for its powers and duties. 

Under the leadership of THE COMMISSION, I have been given the privilege of designing the structure of the Commonwealth Citizens Council (CCC), and the responsibility for recruiting a network of Pennsylvania Citizens (at least one citizen per county across Pennsylvania) that is willing to partner-up with their local County Commissioners, and state legislative leaders who are open to promoting greater father family involvement throughout the Commonwealth. The overarching purpose of the CCC is to Monitor the implementation of Pennsylvania Act 114 of 2022. In addition, the CCC has the responsibility to keep track of Pennsylvania’s commitment to ending institutional barriers that may impede fathers in fostering supportive connections with their children; establishing support mechanisms to enhance the ability of fathers to assume a beneficial parenting role; and assisting men to prepare for the legal, financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood, and much more.

The Commonwealth Citizens Council, Incorporated is organized exclusively for “charitable” purposes in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The affairs of the Corporation shall be conducted at all times in such manner as to maintain its charitable character and status, and to quality for tax exempt status pursuant to the aforementioned Section 501 (c)(3) (or any corresponding section of any future Federal tax code). The corporation shall have the purposes and powers stated in its Articles of Incorporation and such other powers as are now or may be granted a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.