For their first "Breakfast With Dads" event, administrators at a South Dallas middle school were looking for 50 - 100 male mentors to help. The  boys ages ranged from 11 to 13.  Thursday, December 14th, nearly 600 men arrived at Billy Earl Dade Middle School to volunteer at the gathering focused on Dade's male students.  The crowd of volunteers came from diverse backgrounds, including dads from various parts of Dallas, men in local law enforcement, public officials and community organizers.  

          Principal Tracie Washington said she wanted her students to have a large group of positive male role models for the event.  Mentorship, she said, is not an easy thing for a young student to ask for, but about 150 students requested a mentor.

          For many volunteering, it was their first time visiting the school.  The message was advertised through social media and other outlets to attract positive role models.  One volunteer said that he saw a post about the event and wanted to give back.  The request for mentors went out to the community because some students' fathers would not be in attendance.

          The boys reacted with smiles and questions during one activity that focused on how to tie a necktie.  This was not a new experience for some of the boys, they had learned this task before but forgot some of the steps. Others were taught for the first time Thursday morning.

          This program not only inspired the boys, but the volunteers as well.  Each mentor visited and inspired in a different way.  Taylor Toynes, founder of the community group For Oak Cliff, came to visit one former Sarah Zumwalt Middle School student who had transferred to Dade.  A member of the Texas Army National Guard talked to students about military service.  Some mentors shared plans for another follow-up visit.  A mentor planned to return to the school to do a mock auction with fake money and give away prizes.

          More than three years ago, Dade Middle School was one of the worst performing middle schools in the district.  The school has recruited help from local churches and organizations, and received extra support from Dallas ISD with its Accelerating Campus Excellence school program.

          "They are great kids.  You can't let a Zip Code or part of the city define them.  They're so passionate," said a Dade band teacher. 

          Community involvement is expected to continue within the school and throughout DISD with weekly and monthly mentoring opportunities.  "This turnout is a testament to show (what happens) when a school and a community come together, Washington said.