Our guest this week is Tony Bombacino of Chesterton, IN, co-founder of Real Food Blends and father of two, including one with multiple disabilities. 

Tony and his wife, Julie, have been married for 18 years and are the proud parents of two children: daughter Luca (15) and son AJ (13) who has multiple disabilities. 

Tony and Julie founded Real Food Blends in response to seeking wholesome foods suitable for AJ, who is tube fed.  Real Food Blends was acquired by Nutricia, part of Danone S.A..  Subsequent to the sale Tony & Julie founded CINO United, LLC, working with and guiding B2C/B2B companies through all stages of growth.  Areas of expertise and work include: creating and/or evolving digital (and overall) marketing, brand, sales, product, business development, partnership, transportation/warehousing and capital raising strategies to help turn vision into reality.

Tony's story is a series of overcoming some of life's greatest challenges, including losing his mom when he was a teenager, the death of his older brother Scott at 40 and during the past 13 years, parenting a son with severe disabilities, who is unable to talk or walk.  

Along the fatherhood journey, Tony also found time and some value in sharing his thoughts and experiences through a blog reflecting on various issues related to being a father of a child with disability.  We also learn about a number of organizations that have played in instrumental role for the Bombacinos, including: A Rosie Place For Children and Jacob's Ladder.  

Tony is also a member of the new Chicago SFN Mastermind Group, a group of like-minded dads that meet virtually on a weekly basis to: share weekly wins and heartfelt experiences as well as read & reflect on six books a year and meet with the authors.  

It’s an inspiring story about: faith, a father's love for his family, overcoming adversity and commitment to service, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Links -
Phone – (708) 359-1626
Email - tonybombacino@gmail.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonybombacino/details/experience/
A Rosie Place For Children - https://arosieplace.org/
Jacob’s Ladder - https://www.jacobskids.org/  
Tony’s Blog posts connected with Special Needs Dads -   
https://www.realfoodblends.com/special-needs-dad-the-role-that-everything-and-nothing-prepared-me-for/  
https://www.realfoodblends.com/special-needs-dad-strong-2/  
https://www.realfoodblends.com/best-fathers-day-gift-special-needs-dad-can-give/   https://www.realfoodblends.com/keep-going-special-needs-dad/   https://www.realfoodblends.com/bouncing-back/  
https://www.realfoodblends.com/happy-almost-10th-anniversary-to-me/

Special Fathers Network - 
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."

SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.

Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos

Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/