Dear Editor,
Ferst Readers of Putnam County wants to say a great big thank you to so many for their support of our 10th annual Seuss on the Loose festival held March 2 at Putnam County Primary School.
Our goal for this festival is to create a fun morning for local children while promoting literacy and a love of reading. We also want to help our organization raise money so we can continue to put books in the hands of Putnam County children.
First of all, we have to thank Putnam County Charter School System and most specifically Dr. Fanicia Rogers and the staff at Putnam County Primary School. They are gracious hosts each year for this event.
Also, thank you to our title sponsors: Fowler Flemister Concrete, Smith Communications, and Elks Lodge No. 2549; gold sponsors: Dr. Megan Miller, Walter & Rebecca Rocker, Parkside Main 8, Michael’s Window Treatments, and Eatonton McDonalds; silver sponsors: Rising Star Mason Lodge No. 4, Tim Broyles Insurance and Financial Services, Backwoods Graphics, SunMark Community Bank, Peoples Bank, The Insurance People, and FitCo; bronze plus sponsors: Lake Oconee Animal Hospital, Georgia Power, Walmart, and Window Wizardz; and bronze sponsors: Dr. Rita Daniel, Central Georgia Technical College, Eatonton Service League, and Cool Max Heating & Air.
Additionally, the following gave of their time and money to make our event a most enjoyable success for all: Gatewood Anchor Club, Eatonton Fire Department, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Dr. Rita Daniel and the Eatonton Chiropractic Center, Putnam County Headstart, Cub Scouts, Plaza Arts Center, Mothers Against Crime, Eatonton-Putnam County Library, Central Georgia Technical College, McDonald's, Putnam Christian Outreach, Georgia Writer’s Museum, Eatonton First Methodist Youth, Service Leadership Class, Eatonton Main Street, Eatonton Kiwanis Club, Kailyn Odum, SunMark Community Bank, Putnam General Hospital Auxiliary, Merrily Monroe Boutique, and Girl Scouts.
Thanks also to art contest judges Martha Harris and Sandra Witty, and art teachers Felicia Watkins at PCES, Margaret Fazio at PCPS, and Kiernan Pinkerton at Gatewood. Thanks also to the Eatonton Service League for sponsoring the art contest and to the library for displaying the kids’ art before the Seuss on the Loose event.
Others in the community donated items to be used as raffle prizes, refreshments for those participating in our fun run, or other items to improve the quality of the experience for our guests. This added to our revenue for the day, as well as the excitement for our guests. Prizes were donated by Zaxby’s of Eatonton, Lake Oconee Ace Hardware, Zimmerman Design and Vickie Zimmerman, Deer Run Florist, Uncle Remus Golf Course, Eatonton Huddle House, Fishtales, Kathy Gagliano, Lake Country Outfitters, Lake Oconee Animal Hospital, Angela Spivey, Sylvia’s Coffee, The Plaza Arts Center, and Waterfront on Lake Oconee Women’s Book Club. Ingles made sure the fun run participants had chips and bananas to refuel after the race.
Many thanks to The Eatonton Messenger and Lake Oconee News for working with us to publicize this and our other events. Others who helped publicize Seuss on the Loose include The Breeze, Parkside Main 8, Dock Radio, Georgia Writers Museum, Plaza Arts Center, Eatonton-Putnam County Library, and the Putnam County Primary and Elementary Schools.
We look forward to working with each of you again for Seuss on the Loose next year. In the meantime, visit online at ferstreaders.org to register a child to receive books until they enter kindergarten. If you would like to donate to ensure local children can continue to receive books, checks can be mailed to Ferst Readers of Putnam County, P. O. Box 4283, Eatonton, GA 31024, or local donations can be made online at ferstreaders.org by selecting Putnam County GAP.
Please feel free to email us at putnamcounty@ferstreaders.org with any questions. You can also follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ferstreaderspc and on Instagram at instagram.com/putnamferst.
Thank you!
Cathy Mize, Chair; Linda Elkins, SOL Chair; Gail Farmer, Publicity Chair Ferst Readers of Putnam County