Diary of a Derby Dad
Film in ProductionYou are here because you have interest in learning more about the film Diary of a Derby Dad.
Diary of a Derby Dad follows Jon Driscoll and his daughter Dasha. In March, 2020, Jon adopted Dasha and her brother Michael from Ukraine. As a way to learn English, they were introduced to soapbox derby racing. Dasha was immediately engaged with the sport and has become a regional champion and competed at the world championships. In February, 2022, Dasha needed to raise funds to help repair her soapbox car, and was able to raise $2,000. One month later, the war in Ukraine started. Jon owns a non-profit (One Child Inc.) who has provided jackets and stuffed animals to orphans in Ukraine, but once the war started, this transitioned to raising money and finding a way to get at-risk children and families to safety. Dasha approached Jon and asked if the $2,000 she had raised for her soapbox could be used instead to help people in Ukraine get to safety and claimed she could get more. She was able to raise over $95,000 and helped over 2,700 refugees get to safety.
Why is it called Diary of a Derby Dad? Jon has notified the production team that he has kept a detailed diary since the adoption of Dasha and Michael of any major events. Although the production team has not been privy to the exact contents of this diary, Jon has opened up about several significant events and stories that he has kept notes and dialogue in his diary. The final film will be told from Jon’s point of view, and since several events have already happened, will be displayed in a manner of a diary. However, there is still much of the story currently playing out. 
The story continues on
Today, One Child Inc has shipped over 15,000 lbs of supplies to Ukraine from Nebraska and helped transport of over 600 tons into Ukraine from border countries. The original mission statement is to help at-risk children and families in Ukraine. Right now that includes most of Ukraine.
The orphanages graduate the children at 16 years of age expecting them to either go to trade school or get a job and be productive in society. Trade school or College is out of the question for nearly all. Over 80% of the children are afraid to leave the orphanage. 20% will commit suicide by age 18. Over 70% of the boys will go on to live a life of crime and over 70% of the girls will get lured into prostitution or sex trafficking with promises of a better life that never comes. Drug and alcohol addiction is rampant with many children living on the streets.
One Child Inc has partnered with a group in Ukraine that coordinates mentors to help the children get into colleges and vocational schools as well as teach them how to make good life decisions. One Child Inc. also has a growing network of professionals and businesses in Ukraine that are willing to help train and even hire aged-out orphans. They are working with restaurants, mechanics, food processing and textiles businesses to help train and guide aged out orphans.