Teacher of Men Inc.
Early action saves lives.
Join us in funding research, raising awareness, and providing support for men battling cancer.
2nd Annual
Top 10 Cancers in Franklin County
April 18, 2026, at The King Arts Complex, 835 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43213
Doors open from 10 AM to 4 PM
Free Admission
Please register by clicking the “Contact Us” link above.
Using your phone, use the drop-down link and select “Contact Us.”
Fill in the information and the cancer of concern.
We look forward to your attendance.
Empowering Families, Supporting Journeys.
Our mission is to educate, provide outreach, and advocate for individuals and families of those who have been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Our goal is to save lives across the population through education on cancer prevention and early detection. We provide tools to educate family and friends on how to support loved ones in their efforts to overcome challenges.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men in the United States.
Every year, more than 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and approximately 30,000 die from the disease. In both Ohio and the United States, Black men had the highest incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer, while Asians/Pacific Islanders had the lowest rates.
If detected early, prostate cancer is often treatable. The five-year relative survival rate is nearly 100 percent; at 15 years, it’s 94 percent. By 2030, the Ohio Department of Health’s goal is to decrease the prostate cancer mortality rate to less than or equal to 17 per 100,000 for all Ohio men in each racial/ethnic group (baseline: 2017 ODH Bureau of Vital Statistics).
Teacher of Men seeks to educate Black men 30+ years of age, who are at higher risk for prostate cancer, about prostate cancer risk factors, screening benefits and options, and the importance of proactively collaborating with their healthcare providers.
Our past Events
State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) highlights the need for more awareness and prevention of prostate cancer, a disease more than 3.3M men in the United States have been diagnosed with.
Ahead of Tuesday's International Men's Day, a global day addressing important issues affecting men's health and well-being, Rep. Jarrells is joined by prostate cancer survivors and advocates to hear stories about the disease that is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men.
Considering Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men, Rep. Jarrells was inspired to introduce House Bill 550, legislation that would require health benefit plans to provide coverage of preventative prostate cancer screenings for certain men at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The bill has been referred to the House Insurance Committee where Rep. Jarrells hopes it will be considered during the Lame Duck session.
WHO:
Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus)
Keith Dodley, prostate cancer survivor, founder Teacher of Men
David Ford, prostate cancer survivor, member American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Laurie Palmer, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
Kenny Hampton, president African American Male Wellness Agency
Join us for an evening dedicated to hope, strength, and community as we raise funds to support men and families affected by cancer. This fundraiser will help provide vital resources, educational programs, and support services that make a real difference in people’s lives. Every contribution brings us one step closer to better care, stronger awareness, and a future with fewer lives lost to cancer.
Hopeful & Uplifting
Join us for an evening of hope and community as we raise funds to support men and families affected by cancer. Your contributions help provide vital resources, education, and support services that bring us closer to a future with fewer lives lost.
Direct & Impact-Focused
Our fundraiser unites people to support men and families facing cancer. Every donation fuels resources, education, and care that make an immediate impact and push us toward a healthier future
Warm & Community-Driven
Come together with us for a fundraiser dedicated to helping men and families impacted by cancer. Together, we can provide essential resources, raise awareness, and create lasting change.
Inspirational & Mission-Oriented
This event is more than a fundraiser—it’s a step toward hope. By joining us, you’ll help fund education, support services, and research that strengthen families and save lives.
Our events create meaningful connections and generate support for education, research, and care that changes lives, made possible by our generous donors and sponsors.
Our Partners, Sponsors and Donors
FAQs
You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers
-
Our mission is educating, outreaching, and advocating for individuals and the families of those who have been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. To save lives across the population through education on cancer prevention and early detection.We provide tools to help educate family and friends on how to support loved ones in their efforts to overcome challenges from diagnoses through recovery. In addition, we believe in a holistic approach to providing healing not just the man but also to the family in the man’s life. We do this by providing services for the family through counseling individually and inclusively because we realize that the family needs healing too!
-
In 2017, CEO and President Keith Dodley was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer, with a Gleason score of 4 + 3 = 7. Not knowing what a prostate was and how it worked in the body, along with being diagnosed with cancer, created deep depression and anxiety. A diagnosis of PTSD further complicated his diagnosis. He had no where to go to ask questions or share his concerns; he felt alone. Teacher of Men was started after his recovery from robotic prostatectomy surgery. Keith saw the need for a safe space for men to openly discuss experiences dealing with and recovering from the procedure. He also became a resource for family members as they sought to better support their loved one’s recovery..
-
Our target audience is men and their loved ones dealing with a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Programs to help successfully manage stressful situations, effectively communicate with family, friends, and coworkers.
Assist with constant monitoring and communication regularly on doctor appointments, surgeries, as well as follow-up appointments.
Educate on how to ask the questions that best support your wishes, while understanding your doctor's recommendations.
Support once surgery/treatment is completed by visiting patients during and after recovery.
Communicate after recovery, giving clients and loved ones an understanding of how to live life after cancer and the changes that may occur.
Hosting and supporting agencies conducting cancer venues, educating the community on early detection is best, to include late detections, can possibly save lives.
-
Keith E Dodley - CEO, President
Darryl Jacobs - Executive Board Member
David Ford - Executive Board Member
Tyler K Dodley - Finance Advisor , Board Member
Ericka Hood - Program Manager, Board Member
Kristopher Boyce - Web Master
Rick Jones - Board Member
-
Since 2018, we have worked with clients throughout Ohio and the United States. We continue to work with our clients, dealing with diagnosis, to life after cancer. We use current market research to educate the community and especially the African-American community, on statistics on the importance of screening with healthcare provider’s .
-
Family history: A man’s risk of prostate cancer is higher than average if his brother or father had the disease. A man with one close relative with the disease has double the risk. With two close relatives, his risk is fivefold. With three, the chance is 97%.
Age: This is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. The disease is rare in men younger than 45, with the average age of 70 at the time of diagnosis.
Race: Prostate cancer is more common in African American men. It is less common in Asian and American Indian men. African American males have a prostate cancer incidence rate up to 60% higher than while males and double the mortality (death) rate of white males.
No one knows the exact cause of prostate cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one man develops the disease, and another does not. Research has shown that men with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop prostate cancer. A risk factor may increase the chance of developing a disease.
Exposure to Chemicals: Men who served in the military during the Vietnam and Korean wars who were exposed to Agent Orange are at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer (and other cancers/diseases)
-
Monthly Meetings (3rd Thursday)
Contact : Keith Dodley
Email : teacherofmen@gmail.com
Phone: 614-653-8884