Pickens County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the April Non-Profit of the Month is awarded to Pickens Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. Sue Appleton, Chair was awarded a framed certificate at the April Membership Breakfast by Jarod Trammell of Community Bank of Pickens County, sponsor of the program.

Pickens Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy has a mission to provide books for local communities to prepare all Georgia preschool children for reading and learning success. Pickens Ferst Foundation mailed their first two books in May 2009 in Pickens County. The age appropriate books are mailed on a monthly basis for free of charge to each registered child from birth until five years of age in participating communities within the State of Georgia

The program goal included encouraging children to dream and learn through reading and promoting parent/family involvement in achieving early school success for their children. We also address adult illiteracy by motivating and providing the tools for parents/caregivers to read every day with their child. This literacy support initiative provides a parent communication piece, the Leap Into Books newsletter which contains a Ferst Library Card, monthly individual book reading guides, child activity pages, and newsletter. Since this program was established in 1999 we have seen scores on our kindergarten readiness test increase from 46% to over 90% Ready.

Please join the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce in congratulating the April Non-Profit Organization of the Month, Pickens Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy.

Nominations for future Small Business, Large Business or Non-Profit Organization awards are now being accepted. You can find a nomination form online at www.pickenschamber.com under the Economic Development/E-Friendly page or you can pick one up at the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce.