As it marks its 15th anniversary, Manheim-based Men of Iron will host a fundraising event featuring keynote speaker Tony Dungy. The Iron Sharpens Iron Dinner will be held on Tuesday, April 19, at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, 25 S. Queen St., beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Men of Iron was formed with the goal of encouraging men to grow in the "five F's," said Justin Watkins, vice president of fundraising development for the organization. Those are faith, family, friends, fitness and finances. "Our vision is to change a culture, one man at a time," Watkins explained. "We believe in providing resources to equip men and grow godly leaders."
The organization's connection with Dungy began a few years ago, when the former NFL coach learned of a T-shirt Men of Iron was selling as a fundraiser. "The shirt said, 'Iron Sharpens Iron,'" recalled Watkins, who noted that the shirt went viral, prompting Dungy to call the organization. "He said, 'This is Tony Dungy. I've got a group of men who meet, and we call our group Iron Sharpens Iron,'" Watkins stated. "He saw our fundraiser on Instagram and wanted to connect with us." Fast forward a few years, and Dungy will come to Lancaster to speak about his thoughts on mentorship, a key component of Men of Iron's mission.
"He's used mentorship throughout his entire career, from coaching to writing and ministry," said Watkins of Dungy, who has written multiple New York Times bestsellers and is a national spokesman for All Pro Dad, a fatherhood-focused program. "It's going to be really exciting to hear what he has to say."
Along with Dungy's speech, Iron Sharpens Iron will feature food, live music, a silent auction and more. "The focus of the night is to tell some stories of the impact the ministry has had on the past 15 years and paint a picture of ... what happens when men pursue things that really matter," Watkins noted.
Proceeds from the event will be used to fund projects of Men of Iron, including one-on-one mentorship programs, small group opportunities and men's retreats.
Watkins said the Iron Sharpens Iron event will be an opportunity for people to not only learn about the mission of Men of Iron, but to also potentially take the next steps to transform their lives. "It's going to be a great date night," he said. "It's not just for men to attend. It's going to be a fun night to go out with your partner or with a group of friends and have fun. You're going to get to hear stories of the people who have been impacted by Men of Iron and how it's changed their lives. We're really looking forward to sharing everything about Men of Iron, and Coach Dungy is the icing on the cake for us."
For more information or to purchase tickets to Iron Sharpens Iron, visit https://menofiron.org. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 12.
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