IDENTIGENE Helps Fatherhood Matters Inc. with I.AM.A.FATHER Campaign

On Saturday, April 6 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Fatherhood Matters Inc., a San Antonio, Texas based non-profit organization will host I.AM.A.FATHER, an event in partnership with IDENTIGENE, providing a limited number of free DNA paternity tests to San Antonio families. The event is being held at the Boys & Girls Club of San Antonio.

IDENTIGENE Helps Fatherhood Matters Inc. with I.AM.A.FATHER Campaign offers the only DNA paternity test kit available in U.S. drugstores and super centers. Saturday’s I.AM.A.FATHER event will allow families to resolve paternity questions for peace of mind and are not intended for legal purposes, though court-admissible paternity testing is available through IDENTIGENE. Fatherhood Matters Inc. hopes that answering paternity questions will promote active fatherhood within a community that is experiencing a high rate of fatherless homes.  If successful, Fatherhood Matters Inc. intends to host similar events in other areas.

Fatherhood Matters Inc. requires the IDENTIGENE test be performed on site unless other collection arrangements are made in advance. IDENTIGENE DNA paternity tests require DNA samples from both the alleged father and the child. IDENTIGENE recommends, but does not require, a DNA sample from the biological mother. The test is non-invasive, using a simple cheek swab to collect DNA. Paternity test results are available two business days after IDENTIGENE receives the samples. Test participants create a confidential username and password to access their results online.

‘We are honored to work with Martin Henderson and Fatherhood Matters,’ said Steve Smith, Executive Director of IDENTIGENE. ‘Confirmation of paternity can be a motivator, removing doubts about paternity can empower a father to become involved in parenting,’ added Smith.  Martin Henderson, President of Fatherhood Matters Inc., says it is important to remove any roadblock that deters men from being active in the lives of their children.  ‘I’ve seen many examples where proving paternity has made all the difference.  If a man knows a child is his, he’s more likely to provide financial and emotional support and to become invested in that child’s future,’ says Henderson.

IDENTIGENE and Fatherhood Matters Inc. established a partnership in March that consists of content sharing through IDENTIGENE and Fatherhood Matters social media channels, such as company webpages, Facebook, Twitter and blog sites. In addition to content sharing, IDENTIGENE is supporting Fatherhood Matters by donating DNA paternity test kits and discount coupons for events like I.AM.A.FATHER.

The partnership with Fatherhood Matters Inc. is not the first non-profit that IDENTIGENE has supported over the last year. In July of 2012, IDENTIGENE partnered with St. Louis based Family Resource Center with its ‘Kids Deserve to be Liked’ Facebook campaign, helping to fund programs to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect.