Dad on Parental Leave: A Story Worth Telling
The 5th edition of the "Guy at 100 PRO" campaign is starting„
Father's Day, approaching in June, is a good time to reflect on stories that usually unfold off-screen. It's about those first leisurely walks, naps that sometimes last too short, dinners eaten in installments, and ordinary days when a father gets to know his child intimately.
These are the stories the Share the Care Foundation and Gillette are looking for in the 5th edition of the "Facet na 100 PRO" campaign. This year's edition, under the slogan "True Stories about Parental Leave," invites fathers who have taken or are currently taking parental leave to share their experiences of this time in their own words.
Walk after walk, nap after nap, day after day – dad gets to know his child, finds a common rhythm, and builds a bond that lasts for years.
Fathers are increasingly close from the start
A report by the Share the Care Foundation and the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) shows that in 2025, 24% fathers will have taken parental leave—that's 57,000 men, compared to 3,700 in 2022. More and more fathers want to be involved in their child's life from the very beginning and be present in what is everyday, important, and uplifting.
Engaged fatherhood is about care, attentiveness, responsibility, and a relationship that strengthens both the child and the father. It's also an experience that shifts perspective, reorders priorities, and demonstrates how important a father's role can be in family life.
"Since the 2023 law change, which made it easier for fathers to take parental leave, we've seen a steady increase in the number of men choosing this option. This trend shows that fathers don't want to be just helpers or "second parents," but equal caregivers, present from the very beginning of a child's life," says Karolina Andrian. "Together with the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), we've been monitoring fathers' involvement in childcare and seeing it consistently grow. Our joint report includes specific data and figures, but it's worth remembering that behind each one lies a true story of a father and his family. We want to publicize and share these stories with a wider audience through the 'Man on 100 PRO' campaign," she adds.
Fatherhood That Changes Men
Fatherhood is increasingly moving beyond old patterns. Modern fathers are caregivers, emotional supporters, guides, and important figures in their children's everyday lives.
For many men, parental leave becomes a breakthrough moment—it allows them to enter into the rhythm of their child's daily life, see the family from a new perspective, and experience fatherhood to the fullest. The "Guy at 100 PRO" campaign demonstrates that the role of a father is unique, independent, and necessary from the very beginning.
"The '100 Pro Guy' campaign reminds us of the importance of a father's role in children's lives, but also how fatherhood benefits men themselves. At Gillette, we believe that 'The Best for Men' is not just a slogan, but also about supporting men as they truly are – fulfilling themselves on many levels and balancing multiple life roles. We want them to look and feel their best in their own skin every day," says Anton Timakov, Gillette Brand Manager for Central Europe.
Competition: Tell us your parental leave story
The campaign kicks off with a competition for Ambassadors, "Facet na 100 PRO 2026." Until June 17, fathers can share their parental leave stories on social media and submit them using the form available on the campaign website.
The organizers are looking for true, personal, and relatable stories. About those first days alone with a child, walks, naps, lunches, exhaustion, emotion, pride, and moments that will remain in the memory for a long time.
From among the submitted applications, the jury will select five Ambassadors for the "Facet na 100 PRO 2026" campaign. They will be invited to Warsaw for professional video recordings and awarded family trips to the ApartHotel Termy Uniejów, along with passes to the Termy Uniejów swimming pool complex. The organizers will also award 50 honorable mentions and a special prize from the Powszechnego Czytania Foundation.
"We are thrilled to be able to welcome the new campaign ambassadors and their families. ApartHotel Termy Uniejów is a place designed for family recreation and true relaxation – surrounded by greenery, right next to the thermal baths and offering numerous attractions for children and adults alike. We want every family to be able to relax here, spend quality time together, and simply feel good together," says Marcin Trybus, owner of ApartHotel Termy Uniejów.
„"Parental leave is not only a time for childcare, but also a unique opportunity to build a close relationship. And as our experience with the #TataTeżCzyta campaign shows, building a strong bond between parent and child is fostered by reading together, which supports the linguistic, emotional, and social development of children. As a partner, we encourage you to participate in the initiative. We are also pleased that the jury of the competition, which encourages sharing experiences, includes a large group of men who promote reading – for themselves and for children," says Aleksandra Strzelecka, communications and media expert at the Universal Reading Foundation.
Real stories of fathers in a summer mini-series
The competition is the beginning of this year's activities. New Ambassadors will be invited to Warsaw to record interviews that will become part of the summer mini-series "True Stories about Parental Leave!".
Episodes will be released throughout the summer on YouTube. They will showcase the experiences of fathers who share their experiences of parental leave in their own words—honestly, personally, and from the perspective of family life.
– Last year, we collected over 100 stories. We saw how important it is for fathers to be able to share their perspectives. Parenting in the public sphere is most often portrayed by women. To see the full picture, we also need
men's stories, because parenting is a team game, says Małgorzata Adamowicz from the Share the Care Foundation, which is responsible for implementing the campaign.
The Jurors' Voice: Why Fatherhood Stories Matter
The competition jury consists of individuals with expertise in fatherhood, parenting, communication, equality, and male role models. Their perspectives demonstrate how fathers' personal stories can encourage other men and foster social change.
Among them is also the Ambassador of the “Dad Also Reads” campaign, Maciej Pertkiewicz.
„"Stories are one way to convey what's important to us, presented in a form that, when tailored to the recipient, can have enormous impact. They're like a spark that, falling on fertile ground, can, with the force of an element, help bring about the change we secretly need."”
— Prof. Dr. hab. Jacek Wasilewski, researcher of language and its social impact
„"Dad, do you remember when...?" is one of the most beautiful sentences you can hear from your child. These words hold more than just memory—they contain love, time, and attentiveness. The very essence of closeness. A father's role in a child's development is irreplaceable.
— Dr. Marcin Capiga, The Mask of Masculinity
„"True male stories about building relationships with children are much needed by both men and women. They are worth stopping by, listening to, and experiencing. This is a story about the presence, courage, and emotionality of men in a world stereotypically reserved for women, and about overcoming limiting beliefs."”
— Marcin Grudzień, psychotherapist and trainer
„"Fatherhood can be described with reports, statistics, and charts, which will, yes, present the truth, albeit an average one. But it's better to tell your own story about being a dad, with each stage marked by smiles and tears, joys and hardships, successes and failures."”
— Marcin Perfuński, Super Dad TV
„"There are plenty of parenting stories out there—I present them with a wink to normalize the darker sides of being a mom or dad. Unfortunately, most stories are told from the moms' perspective. I'd like to see more written by dads themselves."”
— Łukasz Dominiak, Who's Your Daddy
„"There are several million fathers in Poland, but their voices are still rarely heard. For many, they are invisible. For me, they are not. I want to contribute my business, scientific, and parenting experience to finally change that."”
— Radek Wierzbiński, PhD in Social Sciences
„"The world around us is changing rapidly, and with it, family models are changing as well. Many men today struggle with a sense of disorientation, often lacking parenting role models from previous generations. Participating in a campaign like this is an opportunity to demonstrate what equal parenting looks like in practice and to set a positive example for others."”
— Rafał Zadykowicz, Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians
„"Nothing holds more truth than the authentic stories of real people. These stories aren't always pretty or easy, because everyday life isn't just about sunny Saturday mornings, but they're always important and inspiring. I want to hear them firsthand!"”
— Tomasz Rusek, Dad on maternity leave
Campaign Information
Detailed information about the campaign, competition and ambassador stories can be found at: Facetna100PRO.sharethecare.pl
Link to the campaign spot: https://youtu.be/ZfFC19hozKA?si=lM4Np2vP8qcDtSWH
Campaign page: www.Facetna100PRO.sharethecare.pl
