Parents Without Partners, Inc., is now the largest international, non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization devoted to the interest and welfare of single parents and their children. Membership is open to both men and women. Single parents may join one of approximately 400 chapters and may be male or female, custodial or non-custodial, separated, divorced, widowed or never married. To be eligible for membership in Parents Without Partners, Inc., a person must be a parent of one or more living sons or daughters and be single by reason of death, divorce, separation or never married, or other reason which may be deemed acceptable by Parents Without Partners, Inc.

HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION

Parents Without Partners, Inc. was founded in 1957 in New York City by two single parents: Jim Egleson, a non-custodial parent, and Jacqueline Bernard, a custodial parent. As concerned parents, they felt isolated from society because of their marital status and decided to form a mutual support organization. Following their first newspaper advertisements directed to "Parents Without Partners", 25 single parents attended the first meeting in a Greenwich Village church basement. Later, media attention brought inquiries from all over the country and the rest is history.

PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF PARENTS WITHOUT PARTNERS, INC

As conscientious single parents, it is our primary endeavour to bring our children to healthy maturity, with the full sense of being loved and accepted as persons, with the same prospects for adulthood as children who mature with their two parents together.

Adults and children in single-parent families face unique and challenging circumstances. For children to mature and flourish in the absence of either parent requires an added measure of love, understanding, and sound guidance. To provide for these needs is a responsibility inherent in parenthood, regardless of marital status.

The challenge of providing for, both ourselves and our children, a nurturing family life is often complicated by established patterns of community life. Consequently, a need for community resources to assist single parents in communicating and meeting their special circumstances exists.

Therefore, in the conviction that we can achieve this end through working together, through the exchange of ideas, and through the mutual understanding, help, and companionship, which we find with one another, we have established "Parents Without Partners, Inc." to further our common welfare and the well-being of our children.