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Kids learn how to tie a tie and other professional skills at mentorship event

The Program Inc. offers mentorship to young men from Toledo to help curb the effects of fatherless homes.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Every year, the Program Inc.'s "Tie" event works to change the lives of young men in the northwest Ohio community.

"I didn't learn how to tie a tie until I was 23 years old... and now I'm teaching other kids how to tie a tie before they are 23," said Tramain Rayford, founder and CEO of The Program Inc., as he described what the organization means to him. 

Current data shows that more than 18-million children don't have a father-figure in their life. Rayford said the mission of the Program Inc. is to help decrease those statistics.

Rayford has been teaching kids how to tie ties and present themselves in a professional manner for over 6 years now. He said his own childhood is the reason he wanted to make a difference.

"I grew up in a fatherless home. I recall seeing my dad three times before I was18 and that caused me to spiral into a lot of cyclical patterns of fatherless-ness," said Rayford.

He says not having a male mentor can open up kids to negative influences and teaching kids professional skills is one way to prevent that.

"For us a tie represents respect - what makes a respectable man what are the attributes of a respectable man," said Rayford. "So, at the events we talk about chivalry, men being protectors and providers. I think that's essential to men becoming men. That's when you don't have young men in crime when they are respectful to others and themselves," said Rayford.

Jaeyon Penn, a young man who grew up within the program said he has seen the program help many, including himself. 

"I learned to tie my first tie here at the same spot when I was around 13 years old and it's like what the program says, I'm growing up to be a young man and an adult and I've been joining all the other events and its actually fun," said Penn.

This is the Program Inc.'s 6th annual Tie event. The event, which was held at Rustbelt Coffee, was completely sold out. Every boy left the event with a suit from New York along with brand new ties and the skills to tie them. 

For more information about the Program Inc. and future events click here.

   

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