By Glenn Harbison
glenn@thenewsobserver.com
The Blue Ridge Rotary Club began the program in 2012 and now the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge is stepping up to continue the first ten years of success.
The program was introduced as the Ferst Foundation in 2012 and today it’s known as Ferst Readers.
And while the name has changed, the goal is still the same: to improve literacy among young children by providing them an age-appropriate book every month until the child reaches five-years-old.
Kiwanians Steven Miracle, Troy Shirbroun and Bill Echelberger talked about the transition, the upcoming fund raising event and their goals for Ferst Readers last week.
Echelberger said Rotary members have stepped up to provide valuable information about the workings of the program.
Miracle called the effort “two service organizations working for the good of the children in Fannin County.”
And the resources of both have already been called upon as the Kiwanis Club prepares for the resurrection of the Blues Train, a long-time foundation of funds for the program.
The train gets rolling September 17 at 5:30 p.m. to kickoff a full night of live entertainment, Shirbroun said. There will be live music on the train, dinner upon its return to Blue Ridge and more live entertainment afterward.
Complete information will be available in the coming weeks.
The importance of the Blues Train’s success is reflected in Miracle’s goal for Ferst Readers, which is to put a free book into the hands of every one of Fannin County’s 1,000 eligible children.
“It’s an ambitious goal, but if we can get all 1,000 signed up, that would be awesome,” Miracle said.
At its peak, the Ferst effort saw 450 children registered to receive a book. Currently, that number stands at about 350, Miracle said.
The yearly cost to provide a book to a child is $36.
Since the Rotary club began the ejffort in 2012, members raised $200,000 Miracle said. Now, the Kiwanis club must continue that effort.
Miracle stresses that “all that money, every dollar raised, stays here to provide books for Fannin County children.”
“It’s all for the kids in our county.”
The first opportunity for children who are not already receiving a book to sign up for the program will be at Georgia Moutains Health’s annual Back to School Bash July 10.
Forms will soon be available via a website. Watch The News Observer for details as the program progresses.