About Us
We help people heal through meaningful father-figure bonding experiences.
Our Story
It started with a sign and a football
John Piermatteo started Play Catch With a Dad™ in York, Pennsylvania in 2019. He noticed a gap: “There must be people in the world whose fathers stopped doing things with them when they came out.” So he showed up to a public event with a sign and a football, inviting anyone to toss the ball with him. Many of those tosses ended in tears — and a kind of connection people hadn't felt in years.
Today
A nationwide network of volunteer dads
What began as one man and a football has grown into a volunteer network showing up at Pride festivals across the country — every event another chance to say: I see you, I support you, I respect you, I love you.
See Our History & Events
Milestones
How we've grown
2019
First event: Unity Fest, York, PA.
2022
York County Pride Fest.
2023
York County Pride Fest and Lancaster Pride Fest, Lancaster, PA.
2024
Expanded nationally: York County, Lancaster, Lititz, and Franklin County Pride Festivals (PA), plus San Diego Pride Festival (CA).
2025
20+ events across PA, IL (Chicago Cubs Pride Night, Chicago Pride Parade), MD, FL, NV, MI, and AZ.