Last modified: Sunday, June 20, 2004 1:00 AM EDT Myank Jain, right, of Foxboro with his wife Manisha and daughters Supriya and Saloni. (Staff photo by Mark Stockwel) Thanks, Dad BY JAMES A. MEROLLA / 0 0 SUN CHRONICLE STAFF BOSTON -- Some local fathers are being recognized today by an organization that considers their presence a sign of good health. Family health. For several weeks now, The Medical Foundation of Boston -- a non-profit group that has promoted public health and preventative medicine for some 43 years -- had posted signs and fliers across the state for their For Fathering Project. The organization asked children of all ages to write a 200-word letter, explaining how their dad goes `` above and beyond'' in some special way and why he deserves an award. Lots of children did that statewide more than 100 letters and fathers were chosen, five from our area. All the fathers, including Carlo Bertolino and Jeff Kirk of North Attleboro, Chris Newton of Mansfield and Myank Jain of Foxboro, will be recognized today at the seventh annual `` Dads Make A Difference: A Celebration of Fathering and Families,'' on Boston Common from 1 to 5 p.m. For spending quality time with their children, listening to their ideas and problems, disciplining them with love, acting as positive role models and showing affection by offering security and acceptance, they will each receive a special certificate, a copy of their children's letter and a T-shirt. It sure beats getting a tie. `` We think the direct relationship between a father and his children betters the healthy development of the child, betters the development of the family and, in a broader sense, betters the community,'' said Tony Palomba, coordinator of the For Fathering Project. `` And one group we forget to mention who benefits are the dads themselves.'' Palomba said that not only do fathers directly gain from the emotional connection to their children, but they also benefit from being better workers. `` They feel more satisfied about their lives and more committed to their work,'' said Palomba. `` They are using skills as a parent which carry over to the workplace, like juggling many things at once and using time more efficiently.'' Okay, that's what the dads get. How does The Medical Foundation benefit from this event? Palomba said his foundation is a clearinghouse; a place where people get health promotions material on various health-related issues like cancer or osteoporosis prevention; catalogs to inform the individual of what they need to take better care of themselves. Fatherhood has a great effect on general health, he added. `` The project's intent is to raise awareness about the public value of dads and their importance. To raise the awareness of institutions -- the media, religious groups, education, businesses -- which have a certain responsibility to raise awareness of the value of positive fathering. Hopefully, by doing this, we'll pique the interest of these institutions.'' For the families involved -- Paula, Carlo, Theresa and Michaela Bertolino; Laura, Jeff, Katie, Chris, Jeff Jr., and Megan Kirk; Sheila, Chris and Kelly Newton; and Manisha cq , Myank cq , Supriya cq and Saloni cq Jain -- the rewards were more immediately and emotionally basic, but apparently just as profound. `` It's kind of hard to put into words. It caught me by surprise,'' said Myank Jain of Foxboro, a computer software engineer. `` I'm really very pleased and proud to say the least.'' Chris Newton of Mansfield, a fourth-grade teacher in Sharon, said, `` My daughter kept it a secret from me, which is a rarity in and of itself. She was so excited when we got invited to the ceremony and the Common. It makes me feel good to have the validation that I'm doing something right here.'' `` I was kind of stunned,'' added Jeff Kirk of North Attleboro, an assistant bank vice president who manages a financial reporting group. `` I said to Katy, `Why me?' But I think that every daughter or every son should look at their father and say, `My dad's the best.' '' Paula Bertolino, a wine tasting consultant from North Attleboro, said her husband Carlo, who does quality assurance for a computer company, called everyone when he found out. `` He said, `My daughter did this for me.' She's very sentimental and she's in love with her dad. She's just crazy about him. I'm so proud of her.'' And her husband. `` You don't know how many people would like to clone him,'' laughed Bertolino. `` He cooks. He cleans. They don't make them like that any more.'' `` No one has the talents, gifts and love my dad has,'' wrote ten-year-old Theresa Bertolino in her nomination letter, which also variously described his skill at cooking, playing, coaching soccer, art, kite flying, saying prayers at night and pillow fights. `` Did I mention that my dad is rich?'' she wrote. `` No, not rich in money'85friendship, the greatest thing to be rich in.'' The families also recognize the greater value of their bonds and commitment beyond this single day of brief recognition. `` There are so few males in elementary education right now. There is an amazing response I get from others as a teacher (of the young),'' said Newton. `` There are so many children raised by single moms and so few male role models. The mothers see the value, as a single parent, of having a constant male role model. That's so critical.'' `` Kids recognize someone with more experience around them, someone who can guide them,'' added Jain. `` In this day and age, mentoring is very, very important. There are no better mentors for their kids then their parents.'' `` I was thrilled when Katie decided to enter this contest,'' said Laura Kirk. `` Kids often don't tell their dads what they think of them and there is no better time than Father's Day and no better way than a contest like this to get the kids to express how they feel about their dads.'' She wishes that the feelings of this day and time will last a while, but acknowledges the realities of growing up. `` My only hope is that Katie still feels that way about her dad when she's a teen,'' added Kirk. `` Katie would never say this to her Dad. She'd never tell him directly. He had such a grin on his face. It meant the world to him.'' James A. Merolla may be reached at 508-236-0428 or email him at jmerolla@thesunchronicle.com.