You will not find this story on the Microsoft site any longer. It has been pulled from the archives under threat of a Boycott from fathers rights groups if Microsoft continued to display it . We respect the decision of the Small Business Forum director. However, for intellectual, inspirational, and educational purposes we have chosen to reprint the article for all those interested in reading what the Small Business Success Forum deleted.
In 2001 Deadbeat Dads and Moms in America changed it's name to Deadbeat Locators and has remained on the internet in search for deadbeats worldwide.
MICROSOFT SUCCESS STORY ARTICLE FEATURE - JULY 1/1999
"The small business drive to carry on, and focus of a goal is inherent to its strength."
I am sometimes asked, "What made you start this organization?" In two words: passion and commitment. The television program "America's Most Wanted," for example, was created from one man's passion. Similarly, Deadbeat Dads & Moms in America (DBDMA) was also created by passion and inspired by countless women and men who voiced their frustrations with legal and state systems that deal with child support payments. It all started when my friend and co-worker Dorothy asked me, "Why couldn't something be put on the Web to help or maybe shame fathers into being accountable for their children?" That was the moment the concept was born for this Web site. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and accountability is the name of this game. To date we have had over 58,000 visitors to our site.
We have since then started to build a network of people including:
· Concerned citizens who are our watchdogs on America's streets.
· Private investigators, Legal firms, and bond enforcement agents that are willing to offer free advise and maintain reduced fees.
· Retired and active-duty law enforcement officers who are willing to help us keep a lookout for deadbeats and levy the law when they're found. We also have an awards program for these individuals.
· A support group comprised of custodial parents who share their thoughts and feelings, along with their knowledge, through our online community.
· Volunteers willing to make themselves available online for real time questions and answers.
We do not, by any means, have everything in place. There is much to accomplish with this problem of neglectful parents in the United States. Although not an epidemic, it is a growing trend and a very real problem to the custodial parents it affects. We remain a growing fellowship backed by a team of knowledgeable professionals standing at the ready to assist those in need.
On the technology end, Microsoft products have kept us current and will continue to play an important part in our future development. Along with running Windows 98, I have the pleasure of working with the Microsoft Office suite. Along with the everyday letters and communications, we are working on developing an online Access database where custodial parents can add their personal information. This accumulated information will be used to assist law enforcement, state and federal agencies, and private investigations in locating and apprehending deadbeat parents. We are also developing an online PowerPoint presentation containing video and templates to educate custodial parents on their rights and offering self-help tips from private investigators, law enforcement officers and family law experts.
One of our greatest advantages is the media. Media and exhaustive Internet exposure has prompted many tips from people who are fed up. They turn in their co-workers and friends after viewing the widespread apathy of their deadbeat friends by using our snitch link. I was very happy to call a mother with information that was generated from one of these tips. For years, this mother had no clue where her ex was. With the help of this tipster, I was able to give her information on his job, income, bank account, and important telephone numbers. Asking me repeatedly "Is this for real?" she could not believe that someone would call her out of the blue and give her the information she so desperately needed to regain her child support for her twin daughters. I cannot tell you what a pleasure it was delivering that message.
On the flip side we have had irate "Deadbeats" and others contact us and voice their strong resentment of this site. Some were not deadbeats at all but wronged non-custodial parents who were offended not realizing we have, and do, come to the aid of those parents as well.
Spending many hours answering mail, referring custodial parents to agencies willing to advise, updating pages, adding our new submissions, it all becomes worthwhile when we receive letters like this:
"Although I have attempted to secure child support over the past 14 years, I hit a dead end. This is in spite of having my ex-husband's address and place of employment numerous times. He has fled his responsibility, even with one child being permanently disabled and is currently $163,200 behind in child support.
A couple of months ago, I listed him on the Internet with Deadbeat Dads & Moms in America. Just recently, I was contacted by the FBI who informed me that they are actively working on my case, to bring him to trial.
I understand that the FBI monitors the Deadbeat Dads and Moms in America Web site. I may never know if this is what caused their attention to my case, but if it is, I cannot express how grateful and delighted I am not only with the FBI but with Deadbeat Dads and Moms in America, as well."
There will be more stories like these, I am sure. And with hard work, technology, great power tools and toys from Microsoft, and the passion to carry us all onward, we look forward to all of our participants becoming DBDMA success stories.
