Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a father who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a man and a father. Above all, the Dad of the Month is dedicated to his children. Rich or poor, famous or not, he shines as an example of what fathering is all about.

Our choice for August is Gary Weinhouse, father of two and cord blood advocate.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum witnessed a strange occurrence last Father’s Day. Ten daddies-to-be competed against one another for the gold medal of fatherhood as well as a generous portion of cash and prizes. The first-ever Daddy Olympics had fathers changing diapers, painting nursery walls, installing car seats, preparing formula and assembling baby playpens to show off their preparedness for fatherhood. The five fastest fathers won more than $5,000 in prizes, and all 10 contestants went home with the "gold medal" gift of life – cord blood storage for their new baby – a $1,480 value provided by event sponsor Family Cord Blood Services, a recognized leader in cord blood banking.

The Daddy Olympics was the brainchild of Gary Weinhouse, chief operating officer and general counsel for California Cryobank, Inc. and its subsidiary, Family Cord Blood Services. He is also the father of a 16-month-old daughter and a recently born baby boy. For him, the Daddy Olympics seemed like an enjoyable way to give men a taste of what’s to come.

"Becoming a father is such a life-changing event," says Weinhouse. "All of a sudden the focus of your life shifts completely onto taking care of something completely helpless, and the array of responsibilities you take upon yourself can be overwhelming. So we decided to give a fun tribute to dads-to-be and give them a taste of what they’re in for – diaper changing, midnight formula preparation, nursery decoration and the dreaded car seat installation, which is very important to know because the nurse at the hospital watches you to make sure you install it right. Nothing is more humiliating than a total stranger telling you what a terrible father you are mere hours after your child is born because you put in the car seat wrong!"

Weinhouse and staff planned out the logistics of the event, arranged for products for the competition and set the date of the first annual Daddy Olympics for Father’s Day Weekend. "We limited the event to 10 contestants, and gave them the option of having their families there to cheer them on," says Weinhouse. "Local media was in full force, and the Coliseum Olympic torch burned throughout the morning. It was a blast."

In fact, it was so much fun and such a success that Weinhouse is contemplating on making it an annual event. "We have been encouraged to consider other communities, and we will certainly keep that possibility in mind as we begin to plan for next time," says Wienhouse.

It was also a unique way to educate the public on cord blood banking, a subject that Weinhouse is almost as passionate about as he is fatherhood.

Cord Blood
"The fact is that preserving a newborn's cord blood could be the miracle gift of life for a family," says Weinhouse. "It is a one-time opportunity. Banking cord blood stem cells allows immediate access to the cells should they be needed for treatment."

Weinhouse is quick to note that while preserved specimens do not guarantee a treatment or a cure for every disease, studies have conclusively demonstrated that recipients of stem cells from related donors' umbilical cord blood experience heightened survival rates and less incidence of GVHD (the most common transplant complication). There are more than 50 life-threatening diseases, both malignant and non-malignant, that can be treated with the stored cord blood. Medical science acknowledges that stem cells taken from cord blood have the ability to re-constitute an immune system.

"Stem cell therapy has been used to treat more than 70 diseases, and medical technology is advancing all the time," says Weinhouse. "Sure, the odds of needing it currently, based upon existing medical technology, are low, but wouldn't you rather have it and not need it, then need it and wish you had paid the small sum of money to ensure your child's future?"

Weinhouse believes that banking your child’s cord blood is a once-in-a-lifetime way for parents to take advantage of the staggering medical advances taking place today.

"Your child’s cord blood is a priceless medical resource, and parents and siblings stand to benefit from it as much as the donor child in combating life-threatening illnesses," says Weinhouse.

As for being a father, Weinhouse believes that every minute spent with his children is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "Being a father has sincerely been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life," says Weinhouse. "I have greatly enjoyed working with my wife to teach, nurture and develop our child, Mikayla, and the joy of watching her learn and grow is unsurpassed. Being a father brings with it a host of obligations and responsibilities, each of which I am thrilled to tackle and, fortunately, I enjoy attempting to manage chaos!"

Want to see more?

• Umbilical Cord Blood Information and Resources
• Family Car Seat Safety Checklist
• Start a diary!
• Talk about it!