The Heritage Foundation's Family Facts

Since President Obama's recent announcement on homosexual marriage, many are speaking out in defense of traditional marriage.  Why is the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman so important to our society?

The Heritage Foundation is providing excellent analysis on this critical issue - in case you missed their piece on "Obama and the Truth about Marriage," I think you'll find this article and their other resources helpful when you find yourself engaged in this debate.

In fact, each day on "Family Facts," The Heritage Foundation provides thoughtful insight on many issues facing the traditional family ...

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit The Heritage Foundation while in the Washington DC area.  Founded in 1973, Heritage is located just a few steps away from Constitution Avenue and occupies a prominent place just up from the Capitol, situated among the various Senate buildings.  (I'm pictured here with Keesha Bullock, Director of Strategic Marketing for Heritage)

Heritage's stated mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

The foundation took a leading role in the conservative movement ...

A big topic of conversation at the NRB Convention in Nashville last week was The Heritage Foundation's Values Bus which literally rolled into the exhibit hall and provided a staging area for those like Tony Perkins of Family Research Council to conduct interviews along with an opportunity for visitors to share how they plan to save the American dream.

I was granted a personal tour by Josh Shepherd, Marketing Associate for Heritage's Family & Religion Initiative.  Josh has been traveling on the Values Bus as it tours the country, visiting many cities and towns to advance the cause of ...

If you want to bring a smile to your child's face, the best gift you can give is your presence.  Just "showing up" has far-reaching and long-term benefits for a child's well-being.

New information from Heritage's FamilyFacts.org reports that children whose parents are present at key times in the day-when they wake up, go to school, and return home from school-are less likely to experience emotional distress.  Likewise, those whose parents are more involved and responsive tend to have higher self-esteem and to be less susceptible to negative peer pressure.

Important issues affecting families is shared ...

Amidst the bustle of shopping for gifts, baking cookies, and wrapping presents, many Americans will celebrate this holiday season at places of worship, expressing their thanks for the blessings of another year.

New information from FamilyFacts.org confirms that individuals who frequently attend religious services are more likely to donate to charities, often making larger donations, and more likely to volunteer.

In fact, volunteerism among those who attend religious services at least once a week tends to exceed even the national average. Those regularly seated in pews are also more likely to perform informal acts of compassion, like giving blood ...

I'll be the first to admit that having regular family dinners can be a challenge.  As our kids have gotten older and involved in more activities, it's affected our ability to schedule this special time around the table, as much as we'd like.  At the same time, these are the days when it's more critical than ever to be intentional about bringing the family together.

Kids today face more pressure than ever and knowing they have a safe place to share their concerns as well as voice their opinions, is so important.  Studies continue to show ...