Ferst Readers of Nassau County
Press Release
Michelle Maddox
Regional Program Coordinator
February 16, 2019 10:00 a.m.
During Read Across America Week – February 25th thru March 1st – Nassau County Elementary Schools (K – 5) will be partnering with Ferst Readers of Nassau County to raise money to help promote early literacy in Nassau County by hosting PENNY WARS!
Children are asked to bring in spare change to their classrooms during the Read Across America Week.
The class that collects the most money during the week will win an ice cream party!
All the funds raised will support children registered in the Ferst Readers program. Ferst Readers of Nassau County has been mailing a book each month to children in our community for the past three years. Since 2016, over 900 children have participated and over 13,000 books have been mailed to their homes!
Our mission is to strengthen the Nassau County community by providing quality books and literacy resources for children and their families to use at home during the earliest stages of development. Research shows 61% of low-incomes homes do not have an age-appropriate book in the home for their children. It is also imperative for children to be exposed to quality literature and conversation because 85% of a baby’s brain development occurs before three years old.
Many of the children in Nassau County School’s Pre-K program are Ferst Readers participants. So, this fundraiser will go to help sponsor them and siblings of other students in the school system!
We would like to invite anyone in the county who would like to donate change to our Penny Wars fundraiser to give them to a child who attends one of the Pre-K – 5th grade schools or drop their coins off at their local elementary school.
A HUGE “THANK YOU” to Dr. Kathy Burns, the Nassau County School Board members, Kristi Simpkins, Brenda Murray, all the principals, faculty, staff and students at: Bryceville Elementary School, Callahan Elementary School, Callahan Intermediate School, Emma Love Hardee Elementary School, Hilliard Elementary School, Southside Elementary School, Yulee Elementary School and Yulee Primary School.
Also, we would like to thank Wesley Hurlock and the Fernandina Beach VyStar Branch for helping us count all the coins and Mr. Skip at the UPS Store in Yulee for cutting our flyers!