The Ferst Readers Storybook Contest winner has been announced. With a come-from-behind, last minute surge, Riva Alexander-Hawk won first place as she told us about her favorite book, “Anne of Green Gables.” It was a close race till the end between our second, third and fourth place winners. Second place goes to Lynn Hudson telling us about Kibby, third place to Georgia Smith and Little Red Riding Hood, and forth place to Trevor and Pelar Addison dressed up as characters from Berenstain Bears. Congratulations to our winners and a great big thank you to all our contestants.
The purpose of this first Storybook Character Contest sponsored by Ferst Readers of Putnam County was to raise money to allow us to continue to give our local young children free books. We are so excited to tell you that this contest raised enough to support 106 children for one year. We thank all of you who voted for your favorite character. Without the support of our local citizens and businesses, we would not be able to continue with this important literacy work.
Ferst Readers was started in Madison, Georgia more than 20 years ago by Robin Ferst. It was previously known as Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. Over the years, this charity has grown into a national organization as former volunteers here in Georgia moved to other states and started chapters in their new home towns. The program is centered on the fact that children who are read to early and regularly before they are school age have got a better chance of success in school and in life. Through Ferst Readers, children from birth can receive free, age-appropriate books, one each month until age 5. Any Putnam County child is eligible, but their parents need to enroll them unless they are already enrolled through a daycare, pre-school, or head start program in the county. This can be done online at https://ferstreaders.org.
Ferst Readers is a 501(c) (3) organization. We hope you will consider adding Putnam’s Ferst Readers to the charities you support. Contributions made directly to our county go solely to new books for children, as our Community Action Team (CAT) is made up entirely of volunteers who are your friends and neighbors. Your gift of $36 is all it takes to give one child the gift of literacy for a year.
-Contributed