More than 250 men, including LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, participated in a program this morning at 99th Street School in Watts aimed at getting fathers involved in their children's  education.

Called Donuts for Dads, the program was the brainchild of Principal Sherri Williams, who found that almost every time she called the homes of her students, she would talk to mothers. If a male would answer, he told her the mother was the spokesperson for the family.

After doing some research, Williams found that 50% of students at her school did not have a father living in the same household. In response, she started the program, in which men read to students at the elementary school for an hour.

“I wanted to create a forum where the fathers would feel comfortable,” Williams said.