The H.U.F. (Honoring Unsung Fathers) Awards Brunch & Concert is a special Father’s Day [annual] event, created and hosted by Judge Mablean Ephriam. What started as an annual Mother’s Day Vs Father’s Day—“sibling rivalry” competition amongst brothers and sisters, in-laws, [some] nieces and nephews; later on transcending into an intimate jazz brunch for fathers only hosted by Judge Mablean at her home (humble beginnings), has now become a ‘must attend’ affair. Gaining notoriety, the H.U.F. Awards has been a sellout with exponential growth each year.

 

Presiding over [real] divorce cases on Fox TV Divorce Court, Judge Mablean had seen and heard it all. Issues surrounding family, especially the presence of a strong, loving and hard working father is very dear to her. She strongly believes that the positive interaction between a supportive and caring father and his child(ren), nurtures the inner spirit, and paves the way toward healthy adulthood and society. However, the courtroom was proving otherwise. With heart-breaking cases, feuding parents standing before her and innocent children as puns, Judge Mablean had seen enough. She decided that she was going to become a catalyst for family “dining” time. Thus, became the birth of Honoring Unsung Fathers.

 

The undertaking of the awards is to identify and recognize fathers who play a vital role in the development of their child(ren) lives with the intentions of reaching out to families and communities to perpetuate good quality and responsible attributes of African American and Latino/Hispanic fathers; to encourage and promote positive fathers by spotlighting fathers who accept their role and responsibility, and does it well.

 

Awards are generally given in five (5) categories: Solo Warrior (single father), Love Cares (married father), Fatherhood Forever (divorced father), Village Dad (non-biological father) and Living Legacy (father, grandfather, great-grand, etc.)