Dad Vies for $25,000 in Super Dad Contest

North Carolina father Justin Furlow is a semifinalist in Colossal's Super Dad competition, which raises money for the Children's Miracle Network.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Philanthropy

Dad Vies for $25,000 in Super Dad Contest

Justin Furlow, a North Carolina father, is a semifinalist in Colossal's Super Dad competition, where the winner receives $25,000. He says he would use any prize money to help his almost two-year-old son, who was born with heart defects.

Why it matters

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the U.S., and the competition supports the Children's Miracle Network. Furlow's story highlights the financial and medical burdens families of children with serious heart conditions can face.

The Super Dad competition offers a $25,000 prize to its winner. Furlow's son has gone into cardiac arrest 10 times, and the outcome of the competition has not been reported.

The players

Justin Furlow

A North Carolina father competing in Colossal's Super Dad competition to help pay for care for his son with congenital heart defects.

Children's Miracle Network

A charitable organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, which the Super Dad competition supports.

The details

Furlow is competing in Colossal's Super Dad competition, a national movement that raises money for the Children's Miracle Network. His son has been in and out of the hospital his entire life, has had several strokes, and has undergone several surgeries.

Article about Furlow's semifinalist status published November 6, 2026.

Philanthropy Landscape

Competitions like Super Dad channel public engagement into fundraising for the Children's Miracle Network, which supports children's hospitals nationwide. Congenital heart defects remain the most common birth defect in the U.S., making families like Furlow's a frequent beneficiary of such pediatric philanthropy.

The Super Dad competition gives the public a direct way to support children's hospital care by voting for or donating to participating fathers. Families of children with congenital heart defects may benefit from fundraising efforts like this one that help cover ongoing medical costs.

The takeaway

Community fundraising through competitions such as Super Dad can provide meaningful support for families managing long-term pediatric heart conditions. Readers interested in supporting similar causes can look to organizations like the Children's Miracle Network that fund children's hospitals.