Donald Lykes was formerly homeless and living in a shelter after losing custody of his sons due to drug abuse and poor parenting. He landed a job cleaning toilets and was able to create a stable home for his younger son, while his elder son chose to remain in foster care. Determined to turn his life around for his children, Lykes vowed to focus on being a responsible father and providing a stable home, which ultimately led him to founding Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio to help other fathers in similar situations.

1. Donald Lykes is the Founder and Executive Director of Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio (FSNEO), a
founding member of the Summit County Fatherhood Initiative, Master Peer Support Mentor and Master
Fatherhood Trainer and Educator.
However, twelve years ago, Don Lykes was a homeless man living at the Haven of Rest
homeless shelter in Akron, Ohio. He had been separated from his two sons as a result of poor choices
and drug abuse. His 14-year old son was placed in foster care after contacting the police following an
incident where his dad swatted him with a switch from a tree. Mr. Lykes other son, a preschooler at the
time, was sent to live with relatives. Emotionally, he was on shaky terms with both sons after a long
history of being disengaged. Lacking strong male role model when growing up, Mr. Lykes was now a
single father and unprepared for the responsibilities of having children. He soon found himself putting his
sons in the same position he was once in. Although he had messed things up, he longed to make them
better.
Destitution can do that to people. They promise to clean up their lives, but often revert back to their
destructiveways when things turn around". But it was different with Lykes. He vowed to focus on what he
needed to do as a father to give his kids a stable home.
He landed a job cleaning toilets at the University of Akron, a humbling, experience after working for about
20 years as an electrician. Still, the money allowed him to create a home for himself and his younger son
Donald Jr. His elder son, Shaka, opted to stay away from his dad, and eventually aged out of foster care
system.
While things were financially tight, he leaned on his faith to get him through. And then on a soggy day in
May 2004. his life changed forever.